Dr. Zapf is licensed as a psychologist in Alabama, Florida, New York and Missouri. Although her offices are located in the greater Tampa and San Francisco Bay areas, she provides consultation, forensic evaluation, and expert testimony across the United States, and professional training nationally and internationally.

Alabama #1066 | Florida #PY7524 | New York #015794-1 | Missouri #2014040208

Education

Ph.D., Simon Fraser University (1999) Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Area of Study: Clinical Psychology with specialization in Forensic Psychology
Dissertation: An investigation of the construct of competence in a criminal and civil context: A comparison of the FIT, the MacCAT-CA, and the MacCAT-T.

M.A., Simon Fraser University (1995) Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Area of Study: Clinical Psychology with specialization in Forensic Psychology
Thesis: Assessing fitness to stand trial: Characteristics of fitness remands and comparison of institution-based evaluations and the Fitness Interview Test – Revised.

B.A. (Honors), University of Alberta (1993) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Area of Study: Psychology
Thesis: The relationship between types of crime and personality.

Academic Positions

Palo Alto University

Vice President, Continuing & Professional Studies (2018 – present)

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York

Professor, Department of Psychology (2013 – 2018)
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology (2002 – 2013)
Director, Forensic Psychology Research Institute (2002 – 2006)
Director of Clinical Training and Deputy Director, PhD Program in Forensic Psychology (2003 – 2006)

Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute, Simon Fraser University

Faculty affiliate (1999 – present)

University of Alabama

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology (1999 – 2002)

Clinical Training

Dr. Zapf received her PhD in Clinical (Forensic) Psychology in 1999 from Simon Fraser University in Canada and has a vast array of experience working with various forensic populations. She has worked as an intake evaluator in a Provincial Pre-Trial (Jail) Facility, screening inmates for mental health issues, suicide risk, violence risk, and placement concerns. She has worked as a Correctional Psychologist in both medium- and maximum-security institutions for the Correctional Service of Canada, evaluating federal inmates detained under Dangerous Offender Legislation or being considered for parole board release for risk for future violence. She has worked as a Psychologist at a State Correctional Institution in Florida, providing psychological evaluating and treatment to mentally disordered offenders.

Dr. Zapf has worked on the secure wards of a number of forensic psychiatric hospitals, in both the United States and Canada, conducting forensic psychological evaluations for the Courts as well as treatment and intervention programs for offenders with a wide variety of psychological issues.

In addition to her own clinical training and experiences, Dr. Zapf has trained numerous doctoral students, mental health professionals, and legal professionals, both nationally and internationally, in forensic psychological evaluation and related issues.

Professional Memberships & Activities

Dr. Zapf is a member of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS) and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and a Distinguished Member of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS). She has served as President of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), and is currently the Editor of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services book series, an Editorial Board Member for Law and Human Behavior, Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, and the Journal of Personality Assessment as well as other journals in psychology and law/forensic psychology. In addition, Dr. Zapf is a past Editor of the AP-LS book series, Associate Editor for Law and Human Behavior and the Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice as well as the Encyclopedia of Psychology and Law (published by Sage in 2008).

Consultancies

In addition to her clinical forensic practice, Dr. Zapf has been a program evaluation, research, and statistical consultant for various public and private organizations. She has written technical reports and consulted for state systems attempting to change their policies and procedures related to adjudicative competence and competence restoration. Dr. Zapf was appointed to the National Judicial College’s panel for developing a Best Practices Model for Mental Competency.