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Pediatric Neuropsychology
       925 Conference Drive, Greenville, NC 27858
        252-756-4899  (ofc)      252-756-5141  (fax)
       Office e-mail link 

Education

University of Alabama, Bachelor of Science in Psychology & History (BS), 1977
University of Tennessee, Master of Arts in Psychology (MA), 1979
University of Tennessee, Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD), 1981
Cumberland School of Law, Juris Doctorate of Law (JD), 2001

Licensure and Certification

North Carolina Licensed Clinical Psychologist #2951 (2003 - present)
North Carolina Health Services Provider in Psychology (HSP-P) (2003 - present)
Alabama Licensed Clinical Psychologist #534 (1988 - 2004)
Florida Licensed Clinical Psychologist #PY5405 (1984 - 2004)
Certified Forensic Examiner #035 and #009 (1986 - 2004)

Professional Experience

July 2006 - present
Pediatric Neuropsychology
Private practice in child and adolescent neuropsychology focusing on diagnosis and treatment planning for children and adolescents with pervasive development disorders (e.g., ASD, MR, etc.), cognitive deficits contributing to learning disabilities, including deficits in working memory and general memory (e.g., ADHD, etc.),  learning problems (e.g., SLDs), and emotional disorders (e.g., Mood Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and other personality disorders first manifest in childhood).  Child and adolescent neuropsychological diagnostic evaluations are provided together with specific treatment recommendations, including consults for medications, cognitive training to improve memory function, and emotional counseling. Child custody evaluation are also provided. Family therapy and parent training are also available. Limited adult evaluations are offered to assess general cognitive and memory status as an aid to the patient's neurologist for differential diagnosis of adult conditions (e.g., Dementia - Alzheimer's Type, stroke, etc.). 

Forensic Psychology
Child and adult forensic evaluations are provided for attorneys. Forensic issues include: Competency at time of Miranda warning leading to a False Confession; Battered Woman Syndrome (PTSD) as a defense to criminal offenses including capital murder; mental state at time of offense (Insanity); capacity to proceed to trial (trial competency); diminished capacity as a defense; violent risk assessments; etc. As always, each case is thoroughly researched for latest scientific findings bearing on case, as well as case law for the jurisdiction. Direct examination of defendants and expert testimony as well as trial consulting in available. Over twenty years experience in criminal and civil cases. Please note that all forensic work is arranged only through licensed attorneys.

August 2003 - May 2007
Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Visiting Professor of Psychology -- Taught Cognitive Psychology, Psychology & Law, Statistics, & Advanced Topics in Psychology

August 2002 – June 2003
Department of Psychology, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
Visiting Professor of Psychology -- Taught Statistics, Psychology & Law, & Advanced Topics Capstone Course

June 2001 - July 2002
Private Practice Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- Clinical & Forensics

January 2002 - May 2002
Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, Alabama
Adjunct Professor of Law --  Taught Mental Health Law

August 1998 – May 2001
Law School at the Cumberland School of Law
Full time student of law -- ABA accredited; Health Law emphasis; Dean's List

Fall 1989 - May 2001
Private Part-Time Practice Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- Clinical & Forensic Psychology

June, 1986 – July, 1998
Alabama Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
        Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility
        Certified Forensic Examiner, Chief of Psychology, & Statewide Chief of Forensic Training

        Bryce State Psychiatric Hospital
        Director of Psychological Assessment Services, Chief Forensic Examiner

August, 1989 – July, 1998
Department of Psychology and Department of Professional Studies
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Adjunct Professor of Psychology -- Social Psychology, Advanced Topics, Abnormal

March, 1989 - July, 1992
St. Clair Prison
Alabama Department of Corrections, Springville, Alabama
Consulting Psychologist -- Consulting, Group Therapy, Risk Assessments

August, 1985 - June 1986
CareUnit Substance Abuse Hospital of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Staff Psychologist and Adult Program Manager -- Diagnostics, Interventions, Groups

February, 1984 - August, 1985
Lakeview Center, Inc., Pensacola, Florida
Residency in Psychology and Staff Psychologist -- Child & Family Clinical Services

May, 1983 - February, 1984
Santa Rosa County MHC, Milton, Florida
Staff Psychologist -- Child & Family Clinical Services, Consultant Public Schools

June, 1981 - May, 1983
Department of Psychology
Louisiana State University, Shreveport, Louisiana
Professor of Psychology -- Taught Abnormal Psychology, Advanced Topics, Introductory, Adolescent, & Psychology of Mental Retardation

August, 1977 - June, 1981
Department of Psychology
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
Doctoral Student in Psychology and Internship in Psychology

Law School Courses Taught

Mental Health Law

Graduate and Undergraduate University Courses Taught

Introduction to Psychology
Child Psychology
Child Psychology Laboratory
Play Therapy
Psychology of Learning Disabilities
Social Psychology
Psychology of Mental Retardation
Applied Research Methods
Behavioral Observations and Interventions
Psychological Assessment: Intelligence, Personality, & Emotional Functioning
Seminar in Professional Psychology
Adolescent Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Psychometrics
Statistics: Undergraduate and Graduate Courses utilizing SPSS
Special Topics in Psychology and Law: Civil & Criminal Issues at the Interface
Cognitive Psychology & Human Learning -- Cognitive Neuroscience
Advanced General Psychology Topics -- Forensic Psychology, Psychology and Law, Psychology as Science
Seminar:  Clinical Psychology -- Science or Pseudoscience?

Workshops Taught 

Behavior Modification and Contingency Management
Screening and Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities
Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment
Behavioral Management in Residential Rehabilitation Training
Suicide Risk Assessment in an Inpatient Setting
JCAHO: Treatment Plans and Problem Identification
Personality Changes in Traumatic Brain Injury
DSM-III-R in Psychodiagnostics
Forensic Training:

Competency to Stand Trial
Competency to Waive Constitutional Rights (Miranda)
Insanity and Diminished Capacity
Expert Testimony and Expectations of the Court
Risk Assessment for Violent Behavior
Detection of Malingering
Avoiding Negligent Release in an Inpatient Setting

Articles, Papers, and Presentations

Dixon, J. W. (1981). A comparison of thirteen time sampling systems with a continuous real time measure. Dissertation Abstracts International, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dixon, J. W. (1982). Brain hemisphere specialization as a possible etiology in some math anxious students. Paper presented at the Louisiana Math Teacher’s Conference, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Dixon, J. W. (1993, February). Prediction of dangerousness and avoiding negligent release in an inpatient setting. Paper presented to special symposium of Alabama State Department MH/MR, University of Alabama Department of Psychology, and University of Alabama School of Law, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Dixon, J. W., and Rivenbark, W. H. (1993). Forensic Treatment in the United States: A Survey of Selected Forensic Hospitals. Treatment at Alabama’s Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 16, 105-116.

Dixon, J. W. (1994, February). Clinical Assessment of Malingering and Deception. Paper presented at the Annual Training Symposium of Alabama’s Department of Mental Health (THSMF), Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Dixon, J. W. (1995, March). Bryce Hospital base rates on the MMPI-2. In J. Butcher (Chair), Recent Developments in the Use of the MMPI, MMPI-2, and MMPI-A. The 30th Annual MMPI International Symposium, St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.

Dixon, J. W. (2000, November). Prediction of Dangerousness and the Federal Bail Relief Act of 1984. Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the Juris Doctorate degree, Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, Alabama.

Dixon, J. W. (2001, April). Impact of the Supreme Court's Trilogy on Conducting Insanity Evaluations. Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the Juris Doctorate degree, Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, Alabama.

Dixon, J. W. (2002, March). Should Expert Opinion Testimony on Insanity be Admitted into Evidence Under the Federal Rules?  Implications for Practice under the Revised Rules of Evidence (2001) and Applicable U. S. Supreme Court Decisions.  Poster presentation at Division 41 of APA, Austin, Texas.

Dixon, J. W. and K. E. Dixon. Gender-Specific Clinical Syndromes and Their Admissibility Under the Federal Rules of Evidence.  27 Am. J. Trial Advocacy 25 (2003).     (PDF Gender Paper)

Dixon, J. W. and K. E. Dixon (2006). Attorney-Client Privilege versus Mandatory Reporting by Psychologists: Dilemma, Conflict, and Solution.  Jr. of Forensic Psychology Practice 69 (4), 69-78.   (PDF Reporting Paper)

Dixon, J. W.  and S. Hurt. Conducting Insanity Evaluations under the Federal Rules of Evidence.  (in preparation)

Dixon, J. W. Review of Fitness Interview Test - Revised (FIT-R) by Drs. R. Roesch, P. Zapf, & D. Eaves. The Mental Measurements Yearbook. Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. (in press)

Dixon, J. W. Review of Instruments for Assessing Understanding & Appreciation of Miranda Rights by Dr. T. Grisso. The Mental Measurements Yearbook. Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. (in press)

Continuing Education

Neuropsychological Assessment of the School-Aged Child, 1982
International Conference on Learning Disabilities, 1982
Workshop on the K-ABC Scales, (Kaufman), 1982
Administrative Supervision, 1983
Cognitive Rehearsal and Implications for Therapy, 1984
Incest: Recognition and Treatment, 1984
Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, (Purisch, 20 hours), 1984
Luria-Nebraska Battery, Advanced Training, (Purisch, 20 hours), 1984
National Conference on Cocaine Abuse, 1986
Forensic Examiner Training Program, Ala Dept Men Health/Men Retardation (Poythress, 1986)
Relaxation Therapy, (Rickerd) 1987
Assertiveness Training, 1987
Assessment and Treatment of Dual-Diagnosed (MI/MR) Patients, 1987
Forensic Applications of the MMPI, (Butcher), 1988
Schizophrenia: Frontiers of Diagnosis and Treatment, (UAB Medical School), 1989
MMPI-2, (Graham), 1989
Hospital and Prescription Privileges for Psychologists, (DeLeon),1991
Geriatric Treatment and Diagnosis, 1993
Kaufman Adult Intelligence Test (KAIT), (Kaufman-16 hours), 1993
Intelligent Testing with the WISC-III, (Kaufman), 1993
Certified Public Manager (CPM), Auburn University, (120 hours), 1993-94
Neuropsychological Assessment, (Lyman/UA-30 hour refresher), 1994
Advanced MMPI-2: Court Testimony, (Butcher), 1995
Advanced MMPI-2: Interpretation, (Ben-Porath), 1995
The Role of Personality Assessment in Neuropsychology, 1995
Domestic Violence, (Dutton), 1 CEU, 1996
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), 17 CEUs, 1996
Computer Assisted Cognitive Rehabilitation & Training, 14 CEUs, (Bracy), 1996
ADMH/MR Annual Forensic Examiner’s Certification Training, 1990 -1997
Personal Injury Evaluation: Practice & Case Law, 14 CEUs, (Greenberg), 1997*
Child Custody Evaluations, 14 CEUs, (Otto), 1997*
Assessment of Violent Juvenile Offenders, 7 CEUs, (Grisso), 1997*
Intermediate and Advanced Forensic Practice, 7 CEUs, (Meyer), 1997*
Preparing for Diplomate Exam in Forensic Psychology, 7 CEUs, (Lipsitt), 1997*
Assessment of Violence, 7 CEUs, (Meloy), 1997
The Psychopathic Personality, 7 CEUs, (Meloy), 1997
Advanced Topics in Risk Assessment I & II, 14 CEUs, (Heilbrun), 1998*
The Forensic Psychologist in Death Penalty Mitigation, 7 CEUs, (Goldstein), 1998*
Preparing for Diplomate Exam in Forensic Psychology, 7 CEUs, (Barrett), 1998*
Ethics: Gray Areas in Privacy and Confidentiality, 6 CEUs, (HTI), 2003
Interventions for Anxiety Disorders with Children & Adults, 10 CEUs, (HTI), 2003
Cognitive Behavior Therapy - Advanced, 7 CEUs (Beck), 2004
Civil Commitment in North Carolina - Pitt County Memorial Hospital, 2006
Administration and Interpretation of the K-ABC and K-TEA,  2006
Best Practices in Clinical Applications of Autism Research, 2009
Forensic Evaluation in Civil Lawsuits: Ethics & Procedures, 2009
Neuropsychological Evaluation with the NEPsy-II, 2009

*The American Academy of Forensic Psychology (ABPP)
 

Other Professional Activities

List owner and moderator of Forensic Neuropsychology (ForensicNP), a on-line forum hosted by The University of Alabama, devoted to discussions of issues at the interface of neuropsychology, psychology, and the law.  Membership exceeds 250+ psychologists and attorneys from the United States and several other nations.  Membership is by invitation only.

Test Reviewer for Buros Mental Measurements Yearbook

Research Proposal and Grant Reviewer for the National Science Foundation (NSF)

Articles reviewer for Behavioral Sciences and the Law

   Detailed Curriculum Vitae and References available upon request via email or snail mail

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