6 Hours / 6 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on DSM-5-TR: Key Revisions and Implications for Forensic Practice is presented by Tracy Thomas, PhD, ABPP (Forensic) in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program reviews key changes from the DSM-5 to the DSM-5-TR relevant to forensic psychological practice. This session also includes education and practice on distinct models of case conceptualization, issues surrounding the DSM and diagnosis, and methods of effectively communicating diagnostic information. 

This program addresses the increased attention to culture, racism, and discrimination in the DSM-5-TR. The impact of culture, racism, and discrimination on (1) symptom presentation, (2) attribution and understanding of the cause of psychological disorders, and (3) variations in disorder prevalence across person groups and classes. Participants are provided with both didactic training and practice via case examples.

This program focuses in many regards on applying DSM-5-TR to forensic psychological work but are also relevant to general mental health practitioners and applied clinical and clinical forensic settings.

*Each section will tie back to forensic psychological practice; will not focus on therapeutic practice.* 

This program moves beyond the DSM-5-TR to deepen participants' understanding of trauma, distinguishing Type I and Type II trauma, reviewing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and examining the ICD-11 framework for Complex PTSD and its differential diagnosis. Participants will also explore mechanisms of harm and the critical role of sociocultural context—including racial, institutional, and intergenerational trauma—in trauma-informed assessment and formulation.


This program is intended for early-career mental health professionals. It is also appropriate for mid- and later-career mental health professionals who are interested in an overview of key changes from DSM-5 to DSM-5-TR.

 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe how to develop a plan for incorporating DSM-5-TR updates into their forensic psychological practice
  • 2 Describe the knowledge and skills necessary to explain DSM-5-TR updates in plain language accessible to courts, attorneys, and other consumers of forensic psychological work products
  • 3 Describe how to incorporate issues of culture, racism, and discrimination into forensic psychological assessment, diagnosis, and psycho-legal opinions
  • 4 Describe the ICD-11 criteria for Complex PTSD, and apply trauma-informed, socioculturally responsive principles to assessment and differential diagnosis

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for individuals seeking a comprehensive overview of the key changes from DSM-5 to DSM-5-TR, with a particular emphasis on their application within forensic psychological practice. It is especially relevant for those interested in understanding the implications of DSM-5-TR revisions for forensic mental health work, rather than therapeutic practice.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Clinical Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Social Workers involved in forensic assessments
    • Counselors working in legal or correctional settings
    • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners involved in forensic evaluations

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience in forensic psychological practice.

    • Beginner: Participants new to forensic psychological assessment or the DSM-5-TR will gain foundational knowledge of recent diagnostic updates, trauma frameworks, and the integration of sociocultural factors in forensic contexts.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in forensic or clinical assessment will deepen their understanding of DSM-5-TR changes, enhance their ability to communicate diagnostic information to legal audiences, and apply trauma-informed, culturally responsive principles to case conceptualization.

    • Advanced: Participants with extensive forensic experience will refine their skills in integrating complex diagnostic updates, advanced trauma concepts, and sociocultural considerations into nuanced forensic assessments and psycho-legal opinions.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants typically work in legally oriented, security-conscious environments focused on non-therapeutic assessment that informs judicial and administrative decisions. They conduct evaluations, formulate opinions, and communicate DSM-5-TR–grounded findings to legal decision-makers within multidisciplinary teams under strict procedural and documentation standards.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Courthouses and court clinics
    • Jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers
    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals and secure inpatient units
    • Community-based forensic assessment and diversion programs
    • Probation, parole, and reentry services
    • Law enforcement agencies and attorney offices (consultative roles)
    • Civil forensic evaluation settings (personal injury, disability, immigration)
Presented By

Tracy Thomas, Ph.D., ABPP (Forensic)

Dr. Thomas has been Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Forensic Psychology since 2015. She maintains a full-time forensic psychology practice, providing forensic evaluation and consultation in a variety of criminal and civil matters. Dr. Thomas received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from West Virginia University and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. After receipt of her doctoral degree, she spent a year as a Postdoctoral Forensic Fellow at Minnesota State Operated Forensic Services in St. Peter, Minnesota. Dr. Thomas is licensed as a psychologist in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. She routinely evaluates sex offender risk, criminal responsibility, and competence to stand trial in criminal matters. She evaluates juveniles for waiver/reverse waiver and Miller issues and provides evaluations in civil personal injury and disability matters. She has recently been involved in state legislation for the provision of outpatient competency restoration services, providing consultation regarding the development of a “bench card,” as well as developing and implementing the training program for agencies providing competency restoration services. 


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introduction: Objectives, overarching principles, relevant ethical issues for training

  • Brief history of DSM

  • Review of DSM-5: Major theoretical shift from previous DSMs

  • DSM-5-TR: Major changes to the theoretical approach and diagnoses/diagnostic criteria.

  • Discussion and case examples: Diagnosis and case conceptualization

  • Case law and FREs relevant to the implementation of DSM-5-TR

  • DSM-5-TR: Culture, racism, and discrimination- Rationale for addition to DSM, application to practice.

  • Discussion questions and case examples: Culture, racism, and discrimination

  • Main points and conclusions

  • Becoming Informed (Beyond the DSM-TR)

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
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We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.