Dr. Nancy Nichols-Goldstein is a Senior Psychologist at the Bellevue Forensic Psychiatry Clinic in New York, NY. She conducts “fitness to proceed” evaluations and write opinions for both the Criminal and Supreme Courts for adolescent and adult clients with severe and persistent mental illness who are unable to live safely in the community without assistance. Specifically, Dr. Nichols-Goldstein interviews people involved at all points along the criminal justice process, from ple-pleading through after sentence, to determine if criteria are met for a diagnosis of mental illness and to make recommendations. She also conducts psychological testing as indicated and supervises psychology externs.
Dr. Nichols-Goldstein received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT and her Master’s of Arts Degree from the New School for Social Research. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University, C.W. Post, as part of the entering Class of 1994. She also has advanced training in Critical Issues in American Psychiatry and the Law from the Postgraduate Medical School of New York University. Dr. Nichols-Goldstein is a member of the Society for Personal Assessment (SPA). She has taught clinical interviewing, group dynamics, psychological analysis of criminal behavior, criminal psychopathology in literature and personality theory and concepts of psychotherapy at John Jay College. She is the author of numerous journal articles including The Essence of Effective Leadership with Adolescent Groups: Regression in the Service of the Ego (Journal of Child and Adolescent Group Therapy, October 2004.) In her article, Dr. Nichols-Goldstein describes how the effective therapist working with adolescents must be able to temporarily and partially regress when creating exercises or using props to connect with adolescent reality.
Dr. Nichols-Goldstein’s interests include clinical/forensic interviewing and the psychological analysis of criminal psychopathology in literature. She will also be returning to Long Island University, C.W. Post, as a SMART speaker where she will discuss the topic, Forensic Aspects of Psychology. For further information, Dr. Nichols-Goldstein can be reached at nngoldstein@gmail.com.