Laura G. Kirsch, PhD
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Updated July 2020
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Licensed Psychologist, Montana (license #1267)
Licensed Psychologist, Massachusetts (lapsed)
Designated Forensic Professional, Massachusetts (lapsed)

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EDUCATION
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, 2010, Forensic Psychology, Univ. of Massachusetts Medical School
Ph.D., University of Arizona, 2009, Clinical Psychology/Psychology, Policy and Law
M.A., University of Arizona, 2004, Clinical Psychology/Psychology, Policy and Law
M.A., The George Washington University, 2000, Criminal Justice
B.S., Cornell University, 1999, Human Development and Family Studies
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​ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
8/2013 –  present            Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology and Alexander Blewett III Law School,                                
​                                              University of Montana
                                              Missoula, Montana
8/ 2010 –  6/2013            Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Curry College
                                              Milton, Massachusetts
 8/2002 –  6/2008            Instructor and Teaching Assistant, Deptartment of Psychology, University of Arizona   
                                              Tucson, Arizona 


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CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
 1/2019  – present.         Evaluator, Clarus IME
​                                              Missoula, Montana
12/2014 – present           Contract Psychologist, Montana State Hospital/Forensic Mental Health Facility
                                              Warm Springs and Galen, Montana
 8/2013  –  present          Independent Practice, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
                                              Missoula, Montana
 7/2011  –  7/2013           Per Diem Court Clinic Psychologist, Forensic Health Services, Inc.
                                              Southeastern Massachusetts Court System
 9/2009 –   8/2010           Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, with    
                                              rotations at Bridgewater State Hospital, Worcester State Hospital, and Springfield District Court
 9/2008 –   8/2009           Pre-Doctoral Intern, Federal Bureau of Prisons: Metropolitan Detention Center
                                              Los Angeles, California
 8/2005 –   3/2006           Clinical Psychology Extern, Pima County Juvenile Court Center
                                              Tucson, Arizona
 8/2004 –   6/2005           Clinical Psychology Extern, Arizona State Prison Complex
                                              Tucson, Arizona
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PUBLICATIONS
Kirsch, L.G., & Fanniff, A.M. (2017). Treatment of sexual offenders. In J. Conte and B. Klika (Eds.), The APSAC handbook on child maltreatment (4th ed., p. 348-365.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
 
Sharpe, C.A., Kirsch, L.G., & Packer, I.K. (2010). Procedures governing the disclosure of psychological reports and evidence in a pretrial competency hearing. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 38, 420-422.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Fanniff, A.M., & Becker, J.V. (2010). Treatment of adolescent and adult sex offenders. In J.E.B. Myers, L. Berliner, J. Briere, C.T. Hendrix, C. Jenny, & T.A. Reid (Eds.), The APSAC handbook on child maltreatment (3rd ed., pp. 289-306). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
 
Becker, J.V., & Kirsch, L.G. (2008). Sexual and other abuse of children. In R.J. Morris & T.R. Kratochwill (Eds.), The Practice of Child Therapy (4th ed., pp. 411-432).  New York: Pergamon.
 
Kirsch, L.G., & Becker, J.V. (2007). Emotional deficits in psychopathy and sexual sadism: Implications for violent and sadistic behavior. Clinical Psychology Review, 27, 904-922.
 
Kirsch, L.G., & Becker, J.V. (2006). Sexual offending: Theory of problem, theory of change, and implications for treatment effectiveness. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 208-224.
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SELECTED RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Kirsch, L.G. (2011, August). Invited discussant. In A.E. Kavanaugh (Chair), Juvenile Psychopathy and Juvenile Punishment: What the Psychological Literature and the Supreme Court tell us? Symposium at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., & Allen, J.J.B. (2009, June). The psychophysiology of empathy: Implications for psychopaths and sex offenders. In J.V. Becker (Chair), Recent findings on psychopathy, and on assessment, self regulation model, and policy for sex offenders. Symposium at the 31st Congress of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health, New York, NY.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., & Allen, J.J.B. (2009, March). Psychopathy and empathy: The relationship revealed. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the American Psychology-Law Society, San Antonio, TX.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., & Allen, J.J.B. (2008, March). Do psychopathic individuals really have empathy deficits?: Preliminary results from an objective measure of empathy. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the American Psychology-Law Society, Jacksonville, FL.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., & Allen, J.J.B. (2007, October). Do you feel like we do?: Development and testing of an objective measure of empathic emotional responding. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Society for Psychophysiological Research, Savannah, GA. 
 
Becker, J.V., Kirsch, L.G., & Fanniff, A.M. (2007, January). A Snapshot of Sex Offenders: Juveniles vs. Adults. Paper presented at the National Legislative Briefing: Sex Offender Management Policy in the States, Little Rock, AR.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., Figueredo, A.J., & Sales, B.D. (2006, September). Offense escalation in sex offenders: Myth or reality? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Chicago, IL.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., Fanniff, A.M., & Martens, A. (2006, May). The role of childhood abuse by a female in the development of sexual sadism. Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Association for Psychological Science, New York, NY.
 
Kirsch, L.G., Becker, J.V., & Figueredo, A.J. (2004, March). Offense escalation in a population of civilly committed sex offenders: Preliminary findings. Paper presented at the annual meeting for the American Psychology-Law Society, Scottsdale, AZ.

 

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES
Kirsch, L. (2019, October). Understanding and using psychological evaluations in DN cases. Montana State Public Defender 14th Annual Conference, Butte, Montana. 
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Kirsch, L.G.
(2017, October). The psychology of violence and murder. Medicolegal Death Investigation Conference, Missoula, Montana.
 
Kirsch, L.G. (2015, October). Leader, continuing education workshop, Psychologists in Court. Sponsored by the Montana Psychological Association. Fairmont Hot Springs, Montana.
 
Kirsch, L.G. (2014, June). Leader, continuing education workshop, Courtroom Competencies. Sponsored by Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and Western Montana Addiction Services, Missoula and Billings, Montana.
 
Kirsch, L.G. (2014, April). The promises and pitfalls of psychological evaluations for the courts. Western Montana Bar Association monthly luncheon, Missoula, Montana.
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Consultant, Montana Innocence Project (2019-present)
Member, Montana Justice Initiative (2016 – present)
Member, American Psychology-Law Society Dissertation Award Committee (2009-2015)
Member, Pima County Child Fatalities Review Board (2008)
Reviewer, American Psychology-Law Society annual conference submissions (2005 – present)
Ad hoc reviewer, various peer-reviewed academic journals (2005 – present)
 
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GRANTS AND AWARDS
University of Montana Outstanding Performance Award, 2020
American Psychology-Law Society Dissertation Award, Second Place, 2009
University of Arizona Psychology Department Merit Fellowship, 2009
American Academy of Forensic Psychology Dissertation Grant, 2007
American Psychology-Law Society Grants-In-Aid Award, 2007
University of Arizona, Social & Behavioral Science Research Institute Dissertation Research Award, 2006
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​TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Undergraduate courses:                                                               Graduate courses:
Introduction to Psychology                                                       Principles of Psychological Intervention
Introduction to Clinical Psychology                                        Psychological Assessment II 
Personality Psychology                                                              Ethical, Professional and Cultural Issues in Psychology
Abnormal Psychology                                                                 Montana Criminal Justice and Reform
Counseling Theory                                                                      
Teaching Of Psychology
Ethical and Legal Dilemmas in Psychology
History and Systems in Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Psychology of Juvenile Delinquency
Psychology of Family Violence
Sexual Offending
 
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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Psychological Association
American Psychology-Law Society
Montana Psychological Association
Society for the Teaching of Psychology


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