Forensic Mental Health Evaluations for High-Performance Populations
Specialized, evidence-based assessments and performance coaching for athletes, law enforcement, first responders, military personnel, and elite professionals.
About Dr. Owens
Expert in Forensic Mental Health & Performance Psychology
Robert Elliott Owens, Ed.D. is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (NC, TX) and licensed professional counselor (VA) specializing in forensic mental health evaluations and performance optimization for high-stakes populations.
With a doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology from UNC Greensboro and extensive training in clinical mental health counseling, Dr. Owens brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and performance psychology to serve athletes, law enforcement officers, first responders, and elite professionals.
Dr. Owens has established himself as a thought leader in applying sport psychology principles to tactical and high-performance environments.
Core Specializations
- Police and Public Safety Psychology
- Sport & Performance Psychology
- Critical Incident Stress Management
- Psychological First Aid
- Combat Sports Psychology
- Forensic Mental Health Evaluation
- Leadership & Resilience Coaching
Featured Publication
Sport and Performance Psychology for Law Enforcement
NOW AVAILABLE
Edited by: John Heil, Grainne Somerville, Robert Owens & Tyler McDaniel
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Dr. Owens serves as co-editor of this groundbreaking text that bridges sport psychology principles with law enforcement training and performance optimization. This comprehensive volume represents the first major publication dedicated to applying performance psychology to policing and public safety.
The book provides evidence-based strategies for enhancing officer performance, managing stress, improving decision-making under pressure, and building organizational resilience in law enforcement agencies.
About This Publication
This edited volume brings together leading experts in sport psychology, law enforcement, and tactical performance to provide practical, research-based approaches for optimizing officer performance and wellbeing. Topics include tactical decision-making, use-of-force scenarios, critical incident stress management, organizational culture, and career-long resilience development.
Core Services
Forensic Mental Health Evaluations
Comprehensive psychological assessments for professional, collegiate, and elite amateur athletes addressing behavioral concerns and performance issues.
- Addictions, including gambling disorders and substance use evaluations
- Violence and sexual risk assessments
- Return-to-play psychological clearance
- Team culture consulting
Public Safety Psychology
Specialized forensic assessments and wellness support for law enforcement officers and correctional personnel.
- Pre-employment psychological screening
- Fitness-for-duty evaluations
- Post-critical incident assessments
- Return-to-duty clearance
First Responder Support
Trauma-informed evaluations for firefighters, EMS personnel, and emergency dispatchers.
- PTSD and trauma assessments
- Critical incident stress debriefing
- Fitness-for-duty evaluations
- Substance use screening
- Sleep disorder intervention
- Team resilience building
Performance Coaching
Mental performance consulting for executives, corporate leaders, and high-stakes professionals.
- Leadership capacity development
- Performance optimization coaching
- Stress and burnout intervention
- Career transition support
- Executive presence coaching
Organizational Development
Comprehensive consulting to build resilient, high-performing organizations.
- Organizational culture assessments
- Policy development and review
- Training program design
- Critical incident response planning
- Peer support program consultation
Specialized Populations
Forensic mental health services specifically tailored to the unique demands, stressors, and cultures of high-performance populations:
Professional Athletes
NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, professional boxing/MMA, Olympic sports.
Collegiate Athletes
NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA student-athletes across all sports
Law Enforcement
Police officers, sheriffs, state troopers, federal agents, corrections officers, probation/parole
Fire & EMS
Firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, emergency dispatchers, rescue personnel
Combat Athletes
MMA fighters, boxers, kickboxers, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners, martial artists
Sports Organizations
Professional teams, leagues, NCAA programs, Olympic committees, community sports organizations
Corporate Executives
C-suite leaders, senior management, high-pressure professionals, board members
Credentials & Certifications
Dr. Owens holds the highest credentials in clinical counseling, sport psychology, and performance science
UNC Greensboro
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NC, TX)
Licensed Professional Counselor (VA)
Certified Mental Performance Consultant
Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Certified Performance & Sport Scientist
Tactical Strength & Conditioning Facilitator
Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper
Critical Incident Stress Management
Certification
Areas of Expertise
Behavioral Concerns
- Gambling disorders and match-fixing
- Performance-enhancing drug use
- Substance use disorders
- Domestic violence assessment
- Violent behavior evaluation
- Workplace misconduct
- Impulse control issues
Mental Health & Trauma
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Complex trauma and ACEs
- Depression and mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Suicide risk assessment
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
Risk Assessment
- Violence risk evaluation (HCR-20)
- Sexual offense risk (Static-99R)
- Suicide risk assessment
- Threat assessment
- Recidivism risk evaluation
- Return-to-duty safety planning
- Protective factor analysis
- Monitoring and accountability
Publications & Research
Latest Book Release
Sport and Performance Psychology for Law Enforcement
Edited by John Heil, Grainne Somerville, Robert Owens & Tyler McDaniel
Bloomsbury Publishing | View on Bloomsbury
The first comprehensive text applying sport and performance psychology principles to law enforcement, tactical operations, and public safety.
Books & Book Chapters
- NEW RELEASE: Heil, J., Sommerville, G., Owens, R., & McDaniel, T. (Eds.) (2025). Sport and Performance Psychology for Law Enforcement. Bloomsbury Publishing. Available Now
- Heil, J., Owens, R., McDaniel, T. (2024). Sport psychology applied to tactical training of law enforcement officers. In M. Staller, S. Koerner, & B. Zaiser (Eds.). Police Conflict Management, Volume II. Palgrave-MacMillan.
- Owens, R.E. (2022). Stand up and stand tall: Rethinking sexual misconduct in sport. In T. Prewitt-White & L.A. Fisher (Eds.). Examining and Mitigating Sexual Misconduct in Sport.
Select Invited Lectures
- Steve R. Heyman Lecture (2023) – American Psychological Association, Division 47. “Pleasure, Power, Spirituality, and Meaning: Consulting with High-Performance Populations in the Epoch of Outrage.”
- European Federation of Sport Psychology Congress (2024) – Invited panel on misconduct in sport.
- Tactical Performance Psychology Conference (2025) – Fort Bragg Law Enforcement Panel on sport psychology applications to policing.
Contact Information
Confidential consultations for individuals, teams, and organizations seeking forensic mental health evaluation services or performance optimization support.
Phone
Website
Psychology Today
Scheduling
Location
Greensboro, North Carolina
Licensed in NC, TX, VA
Note: Forensic evaluations are typically arranged through organizations, legal counsel, or human resources departments. If you are an individual seeking personal mental health treatment rather than a forensic evaluation, please indicate this when contacting us.
Crisis Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 | Veterans Crisis Line: 988
(Press 1)
First Responder Crisis Line: 1-844-550-HERO