Ali Pursel, Psy.D.

Meet Dr. Ali Pursel, a forensic psychologist with specialized training in competency restoration, violence risk assessment, and complex psycholegal evaluation. Her career spans diverse psychiatric and correctional settings, grounding her work in a clear, informed, and evidence-based forensic perspective.

Ali Pursel, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

A Doctorate-Trained Expert in Forensic Mental Health & Legal Psychology

Dr. Ali Pursel initially earned a Master’s degree in forensic psychology from The George Washington University, providing foundational exposure to the intersectionality of psychology and the criminal justice system. She went on to obtain a PsyD from Nova Southeastern University. With a concentration in forensic psychology, her graduate training included extensive coursework as well as direct clinical experience in a variety of psycholegal settings that has been fundamental in her professional career.

Specialized Forensic Internship & Postdoctoral Experience in Criminal Legal Systems

During her predoctoral internship at the Center for Behavioral Medicine (CBM), Dr. Pursel provided competency restoration treatment and performed court-ordered evaluations for referrals including competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and Sexually Violent Predator status.

Notably, she gained specialized experience delivering competency restoration treatment for those with neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive presentations. She also supported the development of CBM’s first forensic mobile team unit to cater to the needs of clients in correctional facilities and the community.

She completed her postdoctoral training at the Behavioral Health & Justice Division (BHJD), a unit within Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disability Services, where she cultivated extensive expertise in conducting violence risk and level-of-care assessments for individuals adjudicated non-restorable.

Aside from direct clinical services, Dr. Pursel also participated in policy-related work to analyze and enhance the systems, policies, and programs supporting justice-involved individuals with behavioral health needs, co-facilitated a bi-monthly presentation series to the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) classes for the Philadelphia Police Department, and provided supervision to Master’s level clinicians.

Professional Experience

Throughout her career, Dr. Pursel has conducted evaluations and provided treatment in Florida, Missouri, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York. Her experience encompasses working with adolescents and adults diagnosed with serious mental illness, and other co-occurring disorders, across the sequential intercept of the criminal justice system in a multitude of psychiatric and correctional settings. Additionally, her training has afforded the opportunity to administer cognitive, personality, malingering, and other forensic instruments. In her most recent role as the Forensic Support Team Supervisor at BHJD, she continued to conduct violence risk and level of care assessments for individuals adjudicated non-restorable, particularly those with complex clinical presentations. As a part of this evaluation procedure, Dr. Pursel was frequently communicating and consulting with the Court and relevant behavioral health partners to provide feedback regarding client progress as well as treatment recommendations.

System Leadership, Collaboration & Supervision

She served as chief BHJD liaison to internal and external partners, with the goal of facilitating flow through the forensic system and community integration to support efforts in deinstitutionalization. Additionally, in collaboration with the Defender Association, Office of the District Attorney, and judges at the First Judicial District, she assisted in developing procedures to divert individuals detained at the jail and awaiting admission to the forensic hospital. Regarding her supervisory experience, she assisted the Justice System Liaison and Director of Training with the administration of the BHJD Postdoctoral Residency, including recruitment, didactic, and supervision services, as well as providing direct supervision to four Master’s level clinicians.

Passion for Systemic Advancement

In addition to forensic evaluation work, Dr. Pursel remains passionate about analyzing and enhancing the systems, policies, and programs that support justice-involved individuals with behavioral health needs as well as aiding in the implementation and evaluation of treatment programming for clients with complex presentations.

Dr. Pursel’s evaluation experience includes:
● Competency
● Violence and recidivism
● Mitigation development
● Psychosexual
● Criminal responsibility
● Parental fitness