Dr. Jeffrey Prestler

Complete emergent, urgent and routine consults and make appropriate mental health referrals based on patient’s symptoms. Evaluate whether psychiatric symptoms are severe enough for a mental health crisis bed admission. Provide supportive psychotherapy and psychoeducational materials to patients experiencing distress. Participate in a multidisciplinary treatment team with the patient and determine if he requires MHSDS placement or General Population placement due to the presence/absence of psychiatric symptoms. Formulate a provisional and/or differential diagnosis and construct an effective and appropriate treatment plan. Support the patient in their understanding of the different psychopharmacological interventions being utilized and how can they improve mental health.

Act as an expert witness for transgender individuals who meet the legal criteria for WIC 6600 (Sexually Violent Predator). Duties include conducting psychological/psychosexual evaluations with the Trans population, consulting and advising legal counsel, and providing testimony in the judicial arena. These evaluations include an extensive timeline of the client and help demonstrate how gender dysphoria can negatively impact the client in a variety of ways. Act as a case consultant in California, New Jersey and Missouri for the incarcerated Trans population who are facing civil commitment due to a controlling offense that is sexual in nature.

Evaluated psychiatric symptoms associated with a crisis state and provided initial stabilization/ recommendations for follow-up care. Determined if patient required Mental Health Crisis Bed/MHCB placement due to the presence of severe psychiatric symptoms. Assessed the patient daily for suicidality and homicidality, as well as significant mental impairment causing drastic changes in the patient’s baseline behavior. Formulated a provisional or differential diagnosis and assisted in constructing an effective and appropriate treatment plan. Educated patients about the effectiveness of psychopharmacological interventions decreasing psychiatric distress.

Gender Affirming Surgery (GAS) Evaluator: Completed a thorough assessment of the Trans patient’s psychiatric, criminal, sexual and gender histories and submitted evaluation for local review (IUMC) and headquarters’ review (GASRC). Significant information was gathered during the clinical interview about the patient’s current level of distress (i.e. safety) and the evaluation explained how gender dysphoria was being exacerbated by distress. Participated in monthly conference calls with CDCR headquarters where a brief conceptualization of the patient was provided to the voting members.

Provided high-quality, evidence-based instruction. Prepared course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments and handouts. Facilitated the following postgraduate and graduate courses: Introduction to Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis, Psychometrics, Personality Theories and Counseling Models, Abnormal Psychology, Group Counseling, Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy, Individual Counseling, Psychopathology: Advanced Clinical Assessment, Dependency and Addiction, Social and Multicultural Foundations, Multicultural Issues in Mental Health Counseling, and Psychopharmacology.

Performed scheduled patient safety checks and documented results to establish patients' well-being. Observed and assessed patient’s symptoms and formulated a provisional or differential diagnosis and constructed an appropriate treatment plan. Built safety plans to lower risk of crisis and intervened in specific manners outlined by procedures. Assisted in controlling severe mental illness through psychopharmacological intervention and alleviating psychiatric distress through psychotherapy and psychoeducation. Applied de-escalation and limit-setting techniques to promote patient cooperation. Referred patients to a higher level of psychiatric care, such as Department of State Hospitals (DSH). Completed indecent exposure evaluations and ensured that the patient’s due process rights were not violated when processing and adjudicating disciplinary actions.

Transgender Specialist: Conducted transgender evaluations as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Assessed whether the patient met the diagnostic criteria for Gender Dysphoria and determined whether hormone therapy would be initiated. Facilitated a transgender support group and a LGBTQ+ support group with patients.

Provided focused evaluation and treatment for mental health conditions that were limiting the patient's ability to adjust to prison life. Provided clinical interventions, such as group and individual therapies with the objective of returning the patient to a least restrictive clinical environment. Assisted patients in developing constructive coping mechanisms, achieving treatment compliance and stabilization of psychiatric symptoms. Offered supportive care to the more chronic patients, such as helping with activities of daily living and helping the patient’s develop socially appropriate and acceptable behaviors.

Forensic position consisted of working on a PC 2962: Mentally Disordered Offender (MDO) treatment unit and working with a multidisciplinary team. Conducted individual interviews prior to treatment team meetings for the implementation of behavioral/psychological interventions. Provided supportive therapy for those who experienced an emotional crisis or required psychological assistance. Facilitated (15) hours a week of treatment groups. The groups facilitated were: Sexual Offender Treatment Groups (Phase I, II and III); Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individual’s Lifestyle Group; Stanton Samenow’s Commitment to Change & Criminal Thinking groups; Social Skills Training and Understanding Mental Health Awareness. Administered and interpreted psychological assessments (i.e. cognitive, malingering, and objective measures) and incorporated testing results into an individualized treatment plan. Completed full psychosexual batteries, utilizing the Multiphasic Sex Inventory II and the Penile Plethysmograph (PPG). Collaborated with forensic hospitals to standardize visual stimuli for the PPG.

Doctoral Intern: Conducted intensive inpatient treatment and psychological assessments in a forensic hospital. Completed different legal commitment type evaluations, for example PC 1370: Incompetent to Stand Trial, PC 2684: Mentally Ill Inmates, PC 1026: Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity, and WC6600: Sexually Violent Predators. Provided sexual offender treatment, completed Mentally Disordered Offender evaluations, MDO Certifications, MDO Annuals, MDO Placement, and MDO Extensions. Provided psychotherapy to a diverse group of patients and implemented a wide array of clinical interventions.