The Psychology of a Murderer

Name: The Psychology of a Murderer
Start: 2025-03-23T20:00:00-07:00
Location: Celebrity Theatre

Schedule

Sun, 23 Mar, 2025 at 08:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Celebrity Theatre | Phoenix, AZ

Doors Open: 6pm
Show Time: 8pm

The Psychology of a Murderer (www.psychologyofamurderer.com), hosted by renowned forensic psychologist and criminal expert Dr. Rachel Toles. Unlock the mind of a murderer on Sunday, March 23rd at Celebrity Theatre.
In The Psychology of a Murderer, Dr. Toles, who has cultivated nearly 250,000 social media followers with her true crime content, will take audiences on an illuminating and disturbing journey into the darkest corners of a killer’s psyche including the twisted minds and motives of infamous killers Jeffrey Dahmer, Aaron Hernandez, Chris Watts, Aileen Wuornos, the Menendez Brothers, and more. Dr. Toles showcased her expertise in the wildly successful touring production, The Psychology of Serial Killers tour, visiting more than 50 North American cities in 2024.
“Whether you’re a true crime aficionado or simply curious about the human mind, The Psychology of a Murderer promises to be an unforgettable experience,” says Dr. Toles. “We’ll delve into the complex minds of different types of notorious murderers—like family annihilator Chris Watts, Aaron Hernandez, the NFL star turned killer, the infamous Ken and Barbie Killers (Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka), Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, and of course, the chilling case of the Menendez Brothers.”
Toles will examine what lies behind the decision to commit murder. What are the escalation points? Do some people snap, while others make a clear and conscious decision? “This show is unique in that we’ll be exploring the root causes, uncovering the childhood experiences, the family dynamics, and the critical breaking points that can lead to these later tragedies,” says Dr. Toles. During intermission, audience members will have the chance to submit questions to Dr. Toles for a highly anticipated live Q&A session.
Dr. Toles first became fascinated with true crime when she witnessed the violent death of a young girl. She has since dedicated her life and career to discovering the psychological factors that drive individuals to commit heinous acts, exploring the complex interplay of trauma, environment, and mental health. She is committed to sharing her findings with her global audience and while touring the nation with The Psychology of a Murderer. Dr. Toles will also showcase her proprietary formula that offers audiences a deeper understanding of what turns ordinary people into murderers.

ABOUT DR. RACHEL TOLES
Dr. Rachel Toles is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in both the state of California and the state of Minnesota. Dr. Toles' current clinical areas of practice include, but are not limited to: treating relationship, intimacy, and sexual problems, anxiety, trauma, depression, addiction, and poor impulse control. Dr. Toles also performs psychological fitness for duty evaluations and court evaluations, which include psychological and neuropsychological testing.
With extensive experience in both clinical and forensic evaluation settings, Dr. Toles has dedicated herself to understanding the motivations, behaviors, and patterns of dangerous criminals. Dr. Toles utilizes her criminal forensic expertise and psychological evaluation skills to help bring justice and understanding to a wide variety of legal proceedings. Additionally, she has worked intimately with female inmates who suffer from acute mental illnesses at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California, under the supervision of Dr. Michael Maloney, a forensic psychologist in the Menendez Brothers case.
She has broad-ranging academic and professional training from the University of Southern California, the California School of Professional Psychology (APA accredited doctoral program), and the University of Winnipeg (Canada). Her clinical training includes individual and group therapy at Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood, California, and individual therapy and psychodiagnostic testing at Airport Marina Counseling Services. In addition, her postdoctoral fellowship involved working with children and administering psychodiagnostic tests at the Reiss Davis Child Study Center.
Dr. Toles is in high demand as a lecturer and speaker, sharing her knowledge on profiling and understanding the minds of serial offenders. In her private practice, Dr. Toles approaches each client uniquely, and helps her clients develop coping skills based on their individual needs. Some skills may include cognitive behavioral approaches, as well as mindfulness and meditation techniques. Currently, Dr. Toles is working on a thought-provoking book that challenges our perception of "evil" and encourages us to reconsider our understanding of this concept.