Clinical Team

Dr. Coate has been a licensed Psychologist for over 25 years, currently holding licenses in Arizona and California. Her clinical training began even before earning her doctorate, when she worked in a minimum-security prison in Massachusetts as a new graduate. That early experience ignited her passion for psycho-legal and forensic evaluations.

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After completing two Master’s degrees and a Doctorate, Dr. Coate was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. She completed her residency at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Chevy Chase, MD. She then spent three years at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, where she managed the Eating Disorder Program for more than 4,000 midshipmen. In this role, she educated 1,500 Naval personnel and provided diagnostic and treatment services to future military leaders.

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The foundation of Dr. Coate’s forensic expertise is her extensive clinical experience across diverse settings. She has conducted countless pre-employment screenings, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and Compensation and Pension (C&P) evaluations for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Over the years, she has worked within the criminal justice system in five states—Massachusetts, Georgia, California, Arizona, and Maryland—serving in probation, parole, juvenile and family court, county attorney’s offices, and prison systems.

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More recently, Dr. Coate has contracted with multiple law enforcement and governmental agencies, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Veterans Administration (VA), PsyBar, and Psychological Consulting Associates (PCA). As a therapist, she has also provided critical support services such as critical incident debriefings, officer-involved shooting assessments, and PTSD evaluations and treatment.

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Drawing on decades of specialized experience, Dr. Coate brings a deep understanding of the forensic population and the skills to deliver comprehensive clinical and forensic assessments of highly complex issues.