Sara Vaccarella, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Vaccarella specializes in clinical and forensic psychology, having received her doctorate degree in clinical forensic psychology from Alliant International University in Los Angeles, California. She has specialized training and education in psychological assessment and the application of psychology in legal matters. Her experience includes working with justice-involved youth, inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy services, and conducting psychological evaluations with inpatient and community-based populations. Dr. Vaccarella's range of experience in psychological evaluation includes conducting evaluations for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, civil and criminal competencies and capacities, neurocognitive evaluations, psychosexual needs, parenting evaluations, and evaluations of general and sexual violence risk. Dr. Vaccarella serves as a court-appointed examiner and privately retained expert in multiple states. She has extensive experience testifying in Minnesota District Courts, the Commitment Appeal Panel for the State of Minnesota, and in Minnesota Special Review Board hearings. She also serves as the training director for the Northern Minnesota Private Practice Consortium, where she oversees training for doctoral interns.
In addition to her professional psychological practice, Dr. Vaccarella is committed to increasing mental health awareness through research, education, and civic engagement. In fulfilling this commitment, she has been published in the area of juvenile sentencing, has taught psychology at the college level, and serves as President of the Duluth Citizen Review Board. In addition, Dr. Vaccarella has collaborated with state agencies and local stakeholders in policy development related to mental health and public safety.
Megan Paris, Psy.D., LP, ABPP
Licensed Psychologist, Board Certified in Forensic Psychology
Dr. Paris is a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic services. She is certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. She is a member of the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. At Kartta Group, she is available for discovery review, peer review of psychological work products, trainings or presentations, and consultation. Dr. Paris further serves as the Chief Psychologist for the Kartta Group doctoral internship program.
Ashley Christiansen, Ph.D., ABPP
Forensic Examiner, Board Certified in Forensic Psychology
Dr. Christiansen is a clinical and forensic psychologist, with experience in criminal, civil, employment, and disability domains. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Houston in 2012 and became Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology in 2017. She was employed for over six years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in an inpatient correctional setting specializing in competency restoration. She also has significant experience with veteran and military related criminal and disability evaluations. She is active in teaching, supervising predoctoral psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows in forensic psychology, and continues to be involved in research relevant to the practice of forensic psychology. She is also an adjunct professor at Missouri State University. Dr. Christiansen has been published and regularly provides presentations on topics including competency restoration, psychological and forensic assessment, ethics in forensic psychology, and risk assessment.
Morgan Hill, Ph.D., LP
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Hill is a clinical and forensic psychologist with experience in criminal, civil, and disability domains. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in 2022 after completing a pre-doctoral internship at the US Medical Center for Federal Prisoners. Following internship, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the assessment and treatment of severe mental illness and forensics psychology at Arkansas State Hospital. She has a variety of experience in correctional and forensic settings and specialized training in the assessment and management of trauma, serious mental illness, psychopathy, and problematic sexual behavior. Dr. Hill has published broadly, and her work has been featured in leading journals such as Assessment, Psychological Assessment, and Personality and Individual Differences. She currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Criminal Justice section of the American Psychological Association’s Division 18: Psychologists in Public Service and was recently appointed to the editorial board of Psychology, Crime, and Law.
Darci Wikelius, Psy.D., LPCC
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Darci received her degree in clinical psychology from Augsburg University. She has worked in a variety of areas of clinical therapy including intensive care for children with autism, treatment for individuals who have committed sexual offenses and experience developmental disabilities, substance use assessments and treatment for individuals with mental illness/problematic substance use, outpatient mental health, and sex offense specific treatment at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP) and within the sex offense specific program at the Minnesota Department of Corrections. She has been in managerial positions and provided licensing supervision for individuals seeking LADC and LPCC licenses.
Dr. Darci's experience includes assessment of problematic sexual behaviors, personality, neurocognitive functioning, diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, and parenting evaluations. She has provided assessments within correctional facilities and outpatient settings, with a focus on forensic populations.
Amy Maslowski, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Amy Maslowski is a post-doctoral fellow with experience in evidence-based psychological and psychodiagnostic assessment. She sees child through adult clients for psychological evaluations to assess for ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, memory/cognitive concerns, pre-surgical (e.g., spinal cord stimulator, organ transplant, bariatric), personality disorders, learning disabilities, and for differential diagnosis & treatment planning purposes.
Amy received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict, her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and her Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota.
Alix Brezinka, B.A., B.A.S.
Office Manager and Behavioral Technician
Alix helps to coordinate and manage all aspects of client care, ranging from communication, scheduling, billing, psychological testing, and everything in between. She has previous experience working at the 6th Judicial District Public Defenders Office as a Dispositional Advisor. While in that role she managed client cases, gathered supporting material for court cases, and connected clients to various community resources. Alix has her B.A.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adams State University.
Grace Pegel, M.A.
Clinician
Grace Pegel received her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Grace specializes in evidence-based psychological and psychodiagnostic assessment. She has experience in the assessment of neurocognitive functioning, problematic sexual behaviors, diagnostic clarification, personality disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, and treatment planning. In addition to this, she also has experience working in outpatient mental health settings providing individual and group therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy. Grace is currently pursuing licensure in Minnesota as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
Jake Christenson, M.A.
Clinician
Jake received his master’s degree in clinical counseling from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He also graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with an undergraduate degree in psychology. He specializes in administering psychodiagnostic and psychological assessments to a variety of different populations. His area of administering assessments includes neurocognitive functioning, diagnostic clarification, and treatment planning. Jake is providing individual therapy at an outpatient setting seeing primarily adolescents and young adults. He also has experience doing group therapy in day treatment services. He is currently pursuing licensure in Minnesota to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).