About Us
Senior Analyst and Director of TheirWords Training
Donald Bender is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in clinical and forensic statement analysis. While at UC Berkeley he studied linguistic philosophy with Paul Grice and John Searle. During his graduate work at the University of Chicago he was a student of Paul Ricoeur in narrative theory. He was trained in the S.C.A.N. technique (Scientific Content Analysis) by Avinoam Sapir, and has completed the Level 2 practicum, which is LSI's most advanced training level in the methodology of forensic content analysis. In addition he has completed the Reid Institute's advanced training in interrogation technique with special emphasis on suspected child abuse interviewing.
Besides his expertise in the S.C.A.N. approach, he brings to statement analysis a wide variety of other resources including cognitive psychology, semiotics, discourse analysis, structural exegesis, projective testing, cognitive interviewing, forensic hypnosis, and Criteria Based Content Analysis.
He completed postgraduate training in psychotherapy at the Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center and certificate programs in psychophysiology and neurofeedback. He is a lifetime clinical member of CAMFT and a member of the American Society of Trial Consultants.
He uses statement analysis to assist attorneys in evaluating deposition testimony, formulating voir dire questions, and assessing witness credibility. In his clinical work he has pioneered the use of statement analysis techniques with projective testing, narrative therapy, the evaluation of suicide notes and threatening letters, and dream interpretation. He regularly consults on child abuse cases, false memory issues, and possible malingering. He works with the California state agency that provides critical therapy to victims and witnesses of violent crimes.
In addition to statement analysis, Donald Bender is one of the leading practitioners of Computer Voice Stress Analysis in both clinical and forensic settings.
He was the Fox TV News on air expert for the use of computer voice stress in the Jon Benet Ramsey case and consults on the Michael Jackson matter.
He has taught at Chabot College, conducted workshops on interview techniques, and consulted on confidential projects for such Fortune 500 companies as Price Waterhouse and IBM.
His publications include material on addiction and nonverbal communication.
(Donald Bender co -instructs our TheirWords Professional Forensic Statement Analysis Course and supervises the Advanced and Expert Training)
Chief Instructor
Ret. Det. Ken Driscoll Joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1987. He has been using and teaching the S.C.A.N. technique for more than thirteen years. Mr. Sapir has called Ken a “guru” on the subject of S.C.A.N. because of the intense studies he puts into the statements he reads. For his efforts, he has not only solved many cases, but he has also received numerous awards including a unit citation and six "Officer of the Year Awards". (Ret. Det. Driscoll instructs our TheirWords introductory course in Professional Forensic Statement Analysis.)
Legal Consultants
Eric Goldman is an attorney specializing in medical malpractice and class action cases. He is an experienced litigator and a former law school professor.
Kathryn Goldman is an attorney with extensive experience in both criminal and civil cases. She was a former Deputy District Attorney in Southern California , and was responsible for prosecuting major crimes, including murder and rape.
Consultant In Psychological Theory and Technique
David Jenkins, Ph.D. completed his doctoral work in psychology and did his dissertation on the Vicissitudes of Theme in Jung's Dream Theory. Although specializing in dream research, he uses content analysis techniques to analyze a variety of narrative textual material. In addition to his published work, he conducts workshops and training sessions.
Human Resourse and Management Consultant
Erica Carlsson is a former Branch Chief of a large government agency with over 28 years of experience with a full spectrum of employee issues: behavioral interviewing and hiring, handling non-performance, threats to employees, verbal and physically abusive employees, substance abuse issues, various sexual harassment and other discrimination complaints, HAZMAT and anthrax reports, bomb threats, training in diversity issues and management techniques. She is an expert in program evaluation and quality assurance. She has authored training manuals and special investigative reports. She did her graduate work in political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Law Enforcement Adjunct Consultants
Det. Danny Grubb has been a member of the Baltimore Police Department since 1993. He has been using the S.C.A.N. technique for more than five years and has a very good working knowledge of the technique. For his efforts, he has not only solved many cases, but he has also received numerous awards including a unit citation and 2002's Officer of the Year Award. (Detective Grubb also instructs our Introductory Course.)