Goodspeed Psychology Services · Virginia
Understanding minds, empowering lives.
Clinical and forensic psychological care led by Dr. Shanika L. Goodspeed, Psy.D. — evaluations, consultations, and culturally attuned trauma therapy, offered in English and Spanish.
Years spanning clinical assessment, forensic evaluation, and trauma-focused care.
What we offer
Clarity through science, solutions through insight.
Psychological Evaluations
Comprehensive, data-driven assessments for ages 12 and up — from psychoeducational and personality testing to trauma, depression, and diagnostic clarification.
See assessment typesConsultations
You are the expert on your life — focused sessions to help you make sense of a diagnosis, a report, or a decision, in 30, 50, or 75-minute formats.
View consultation tiersTrauma-Focused Therapy
Culturally sensitive trauma care centered on the distinctive experiences of the African diaspora, in a safe and nurturing space for healing.
Begin the healing journeyForensic Evaluations
Precision for the court and beyond.
- Competency to Stand Trial
- Competency Restorability
- Violence Risk
- Psychosexual
- Private Pre-Sentence Investigation
Clinical Assessments
Data-driven evaluations, ages 12 and older.
Every evaluation addresses diverse psychological needs and offers tailored solutions for improvement — grounded in rigorous, evidence-based methodology.
Psychoeducational
Identifies strengths and areas for growth to support academic success.
Personality
Deep insight into behaviors, motivations, and personal growth.
Trauma
Explores past experience and its impact, guiding recovery.
Depression
Accurate diagnosis and a clear path to effective treatment.
Anxiety
Pinpoints sources of stress to help regain peace of mind.
Developmental Disorders
Clear diagnoses and customized interventions for growth.
Psychotic Disorders
Clarity, understanding, and a roadmap to treatment.
Impulse Control
Identifies underlying issues and strategies to manage behavior.
Consultations
You are the expert on your life. I help you make sense of it.
Focused guidance on a specific question or concern
"Do I need an evaluation?"
In-depth consultation, with room for nuance and follow-up
"I was diagnosed with (x). What does this actually mean?"
Complex situations or multiple issues at once
"Can you help me create a roadmap for my mental health journey?"
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."
— Maya Angelou
Trauma-Focused Therapy
Unravel the knots of trauma, weave the tapestry of healing.
We are deeply committed to delivering culturally sensitive trauma therapy that caters to the distinctive experiences and needs of individuals of the African diaspora — a safe, nurturing space for healing and personal development.
Somatization
Physical symptoms, such as body aches, that arise from psychological stress caused by trauma.
Anger
Emotional dysregulation that can lead to outbursts and quick-temperedness.
Worry
Increased anxiety, rumination, and panic attacks following a traumatic event.
Sadness
Depression and low mood that disrupt everyday functioning.
Exhaustion
Fatigue and low energy from prolonged periods of emotional impact.
Confusion
Reduced concentration, dissociation, and blanks in memory.
Spalding University — with master's degrees in clinical and forensic psychology.
Dr. Shanika L. Goodspeed, Psy.D.
A licensed clinical & forensic psychologist in Virginia.
Dr. Goodspeed specializes in comprehensive clinical psychological assessments, addressing a wide range of issues, with expertise extending into forensic assessment and trauma-focused therapy.
She has provided trauma therapy for people of color at a racial trauma clinic, worked with individuals with serious mental illness in an in-patient forensic hospital, and offered specialized services to justice-involved youth with autism — including high-profile work at the Superior Court of Washington D.C. and Central State Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.
A dynamic speaker on cultural humility and inclusiveness, she is co-author of the 2021 publication "Practicing Cultural Humility to Build Inclusive Excellence."
In their words
Experiences of Goodspeed Psychology clients.
"I've known you for 58 minutes and I feel like you've understood me more than anyone else."
"I've been seeing a psychologist daily, and no one has ever asked me that. That question just brought me so much clarity."
"Thank you for talking. Thank you for being an advocate for me. My screams are real."
"I can honestly say this is the first telehealth appointment I've had where I could actually talk and be heard."
"I hope you're proud of yourself because I'm proud of you."
"I can tell by your aura and energy that you actually care and are passionate about what you do."