20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Introduction to Conducting Forensic Psychological Evaluations of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals is presented by Sara Boyd, PhD, and Dee Farmer in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) 

This program covers considerations related to language and evaluator behavior regarding interviewing and writing reports about transgender and/or gender diverse individuals in the context of forensic mental health evaluations. The program provides practical recommendations and basic scripts for evaluators to speak accurately and appropriately to and about transgender and/or gender diverse evaluees during interviews and testimony. 

The presenters discuss commonly used tests in forensic settings, including personality/psychopathology-focused self-report measures, risk assessments, and trauma-related assessments, focusing on acknowledging the limitations of existing measures that use gendered norms, did not include or account for transgender people in test development samples, and/or may not provide adequate coverage of relevant psychological phenomena. There will be practical suggestions for how to choose, use, and describe formal psychological testing in reports. 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe appropriate language to use or account for when interviewing and writing reports about individuals who are gender diverse and/or transgender
  • 2 Describe the limitations of commonly-used psychological tests in forensic settings, and suggest strategies for making decisions about formal testing
  • 3 Describe practical and ethical considerations related to the role of gender in a forensic psychological evaluation of someone who is transgender and/or gender diverse
  • 4 Describe knowledge of factors that may affect a transgender individual’s ability to disclose sensitive information in the context of a forensic interview

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for M.S. or PhD-level psychologists who conduct forensic psychological evaluations and/or work in correctional settings, including those involved in prisons, jails, probation, parole, and community-based forensic mental health services. It is also designed for community psychologists engaged in forensic or correctional work. Attendees will be asked to complete preliminary reading on basic etiquette, such as not deadnaming, using correct pronouns, not asking about genitals, and referring to transgender and gender-diverse people respectfully, to ensure constructive participation.

    Job titles/roles:

    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Correctional Psychologist
    • Community Psychologist
    • Mental Health Professional

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in forensic mental health evaluations involving transgender and/or gender diverse individuals.

    • Beginner: Participants may have limited or no prior experience conducting forensic evaluations with transgender and/or gender diverse individuals and are seeking foundational knowledge about appropriate language, report writing, and ethical considerations.
    • Intermediate: Participants may have some experience with forensic evaluations and basic familiarity with gender diversity, but seek to deepen their understanding of best practices, limitations of commonly used tests, and nuanced ethical issues.
    • Advanced: Participants may have substantial experience in forensic mental health or working with transgender and/or gender diverse populations and are seeking to refine their skills, address complex scenarios, and stay current with evolving standards and recommendations.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals attending this training typically work in environments where forensic psychological services intersect with the legal and correctional systems. These settings are often highly structured, security-focused, and may involve working with individuals who are incarcerated, on probation or parole, or engaged in court-ordered mental health services. Community-based forensic mental health services may also be provided in outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, or through partnerships with legal and social service agencies. The work environment can range from correctional facilities (prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers) to courtrooms, probation offices, and community mental health centers. These settings require practitioners to navigate complex ethical, legal, and institutional policies, often under conditions of limited privacy and heightened safety concerns, while providing objective, culturally competent, and trauma-informed care to diverse populations, including transgender and gender-diverse individuals.

Presented By

Sara Boyd, PhD, PhD

Sara Boyd, Ph.D., ABPP is a licensed clinical psychologist, board-certified forensic psychologist, and associate faculty at the Forensic Clinic of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, & Public Policy (ILPPP) at the University of Virginia. Dr. Boyd’s primary specialties include Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, psychological trauma (particularly interpersonal violence) in children and adults, and forensic psychological evaluation of gender minority individuals. Dr. Boyd develops and presents trainings for forensic evaluators, mental health care providers and legal professionals.

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Sara Boyd, PhD

Presented By

Dee Farmer

Dee Farmer is a transgender woman who successfully sued at the federal district court level while she was incarcerated, alleging the prison failed to protect her, a protection that is guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment. Farmer v. Brennan was heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1994. The Court ruled unanimously in favor of Farmer and allowed her to seek damages from the officials responsible for placing her in danger, and stipulated that prisoners have a right to be protected from sexual violence. The case is widely cited in cases relating to prisoners’ rights and transgender prisoners’ rights. Farmer is a legal expert, consultant and advocate. She was the first transgender plaintiff to bring a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Dee Farmer

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Introductions and brief backgrounds of presenters

  • Etiquette and terminology guidance

  • How to utilize testing and avoid misuse of testing

  • Ethical issues

  • Additional learning and networking options

We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology

American Academy of Forensic Psychology

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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.