Our Team
Clinical expertise meets lived experience. Dr. Patrick Fisher founded Dr. Prison. Ken Gaughan lived it.
Two Perspectives, One Mission
Dr. Prison was founded on a simple idea: the people navigating the federal prison system deserve guidance from a team that combines professional credentials with firsthand experience. That's what we deliver.
Dr. Patrick Fisher, PhD, LPC, NCC — Founder
Dr. Patrick Fisher is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years of clinical experience practicing in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Walden University, an M.S. in Psychology & Counseling, and is the founder of TheraPetic® Healthcare Provider Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has helped more than 50,000 families.
Dr. Fisher founded Dr. Prison to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and the real-world experience of navigating the BOP. His professional background in counseling, psychological assessment, and human-animal interaction informs the consulting framework—bringing clinical rigor to a space that desperately needs it.
Ken Gaughan — Lived Experience Consultant & Author
Ken Gaughan spent 102 months in the federal system: 55 months under pre-sentence supervision, 35 months incarcerated in BOP custody (including time in the Special Housing Unit), and 12 months on home confinement with GPS monitoring. Before his federal case, he served as Director of Counseling Services overseeing mental health support across 95 schools. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.
Ken experienced every phase of the federal system firsthand—designation anxiety, self-surrender, intake, the daily rhythms of institutional life, disciplinary proceedings, the grievance process, the halfway house, home confinement restrictions, and supervised release. He documented it all in real time on kengaughan.com and turned that experience into the book Navigating the Federal Prison System: What I Wish I Knew Before Prison — From Cuffs to Freedom.
Why This Matters
When Ken was preparing to surrender, he couldn't find guidance from anyone who had actually been through it. Plenty of lawyers who knew the legal system. No one who knew what it was really like inside. Dr. Fisher saw the same gap from the clinical side—families in crisis with nowhere to turn for practical, honest guidance.
Together, they provide what neither could alone: clinically informed consulting grounded in real BOP experience.
What We're Not
We believe in complete transparency about what we offer:
- We are NOT a law firm. We cannot provide legal advice or representation. For legal matters, work with a qualified federal defense attorney.
- We are NOT providing therapy. Our services are consulting and coaching, not mental health treatment.
- We are NOT BOP employees. We have no inside connections or special access to the Bureau of Prisons.
- We cannot guarantee outcomes. The federal system is unpredictable. Anyone who promises specific results is not being honest.
What we offer is honest guidance from a team that combines clinical expertise with lived experience. Practical strategies. A willingness to tell you the truth, even when it's hard to hear.
What Ken Learned Inside
The System Has Rules
Both written and unwritten. Understanding them—really understanding them, not just reading the handbook—makes the difference between surviving and struggling.
Relationships Matter
Your family relationships will be tested. How you maintain them during incarceration often determines whether they survive. Communication takes effort and strategy.
Time Can Be Productive
Ken earned his DOL electrician certification (6,000+ hours) during incarceration. The time will pass regardless—what you do with it is up to you.
Preparation Matters
The people who struggle most are often those who walked in unprepared. Knowing what to expect—realistic expectations, not false hope—makes everything more manageable.
Documentation Is Essential
Every interaction, every issue, every request should be documented. The grievance system (BP-8/9/10/11) requires it. Protecting yourself requires it.
Reentry Is Harder Than Prison
The transition home—RRC, home confinement, supervised release—is often more difficult than incarceration itself. Most people don't prepare for it adequately.
Let's Talk
Free 30-minute consultation to discuss your situation. No obligation.