Dr. Rachel Toles takes us into the minds of serial killers

Dr. Rachel Toles is a clinical and forensic psychologist specializing in extreme violence, serial homicide, and threat pathways. Her work focuses on the assessment and interpretation of high-risk behavior, including the warning patterns that can surface long before violence becomes visible. She conducts violence risk assessments, provides expert testimony, and consults on high-profile criminal cases, bringing clinical precision to questions of intent, escalation, and behavioral change over time.

Dr. Toles consults across film and television, advising on offender psychology, behavioral realism, threat escalation, and character development. Her work supports writers, producers, and networks in building accurate portrayals of criminal behavior, investigative decision-making, and the psychological dynamics that shape victims, perpetrators, and families. Her consulting credits include Dick Wolf Productions, HBO Max, Investigation Discovery, MGM+, Peacock, MGM+, Apple TV, NBCUniversal, ABC News Nightline (Impact x Hulu), Oxygen, and Sony Pictures Television.

As a speaker, Dr. Toles presents nationally and internationally on the psychology of homicide, pathways to violence, and the warning behaviors that often appear years before an act becomes public. She’s known for translating complex behavioral science into clear, usable frameworks for professionals and general audiences alike, with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and understanding the full chain of contributing factors behind violent outcomes. Her research interests sit at the intersection of psychology, media representation, and public perception, with a focus on how cultural narratives shape the way society defines danger, evil, and “criminal minds.”

She’s currently writing a book, represented by Writers House, examining the cultural myths and narrative contagion that shape how “psychopathy” is understood and used, and how these labels influence public thinking, institutional decision-making, and the way violence is explained after the fact.

Website: https://drracheltoles.com/