Dr. Daniella M. Carter

Licensed Clinical & Forensic Psychologist

Dr. Daniella M. Carter is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist. She earned her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from the Florida School of Professional Psychology's APA-accredited National Louis University and is licensed to practice psychology in Kentucky and Florida.

Dr. Carter's clinical training background is extensive and spans clinical and forensic settings. Her pre-doctoral internship at Northeast Florida State Hospital, a state forensic psychiatric facility, provided immersive training in competency to stand trial evaluations, Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity conditional release assessments, and psychological treatment of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Her post-doctoral residency, and subsequent practice, further solidified her expertise in court-ordered forensic assessments, such as criminal responsibility, and a variety of general and specific risk evaluations, which were conducted throughout correctional and community (e.g., outpatient) settings.

At Kaplan Forensic Psychological Services, Dr. Carter conducts forensic psychological evaluations, which stem from criminal and civil referral streams. Her criminal forensic work includes competency to stand trial, mental status at the time of the charged offense, and psychosexual risk evaluations. Civilly, she conducts parental capacity evaluations, accepting referrals from family law attorneys representing private litigants as well as referrals from child protective government agencies. She is particularly sensitive to the intersection of trauma, serious mental illness, and family systems-an interest prevalent during her doctoral training, as her dissertation examined the childhood developmental impacts when raised by parents diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Dr. Carter brings exceptional depth to both clinical and forensic psychological testing and is broadly proficient in objective and projective instruments, including the MMPI series and PAI, the Rorschach Inkblot Test, and cognitive/neuropsychological testing measures. Her psychological assessment encompasses the entire developmental spectrum, from early childhood through geriatric populations, and spans a wide range of diagnostic presentations, such as mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., ASD, ADHD, & IDD), as well as substance-use disorders. This expertise allows her thorough understanding of an individual's functional capabilities and the identification of any impairments affecting behavior.

In addition to her aforenoted clinical and forensic practice, Dr. Carter served in the role of an adjunct faculty member at the Florida School of Professional Psychology, where she taught graduate-level courses in Projective Assessment and Integrative Assessment. Licensed to practice since 2024, her career reflects a commitment to rigorous evidence-based practice, and to serving individuals navigating the complex intersection of mental health and the legal system. Dr. Carter is a member of the American Psychological Association.