4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on AAFP: Uncommon Topics in Sanity Evaluations is presented by Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP in partnership with The American Board of Forensic Psychology.

This program considers topics that arise less commonly but nonetheless introduces complications in the assessment of sanity. Specific topics include: assessing religious beliefs in sanity evaluations; amnesia and insanity; sanity and seizures; sanity and sleep disorders; and managing discrepant data in sanity evaluations. Relevant case law and literature are reviewed. General and specific conceptual considerations in performing sanity evaluations that involve the topic areas are discussed.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe strategies for assessing functional legal capacities in sanity evaluations when issues of religious beliefs, amnesia, seizures, or sleep disorders arise.
  • 2 Describe the known symptomatic phenomenology of genuine seizure disorders, amnesia, and sleep disorder as they relate to functional legal capacities in sanity evaluations.
  • 3 Describe key differences between delusions and overvalued ideas.
  • 4 Describe strategies for coping with data that are not consistent with one’s opinion in sanity evaluations.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals at all experience levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—who are involved in conducting sanity evaluations within forensic contexts. Participants typically have backgrounds in forensic psychology, psychiatry, or clinical psychology and possess expertise in assessing complex or atypical factors that influence determinations of sanity. The training is relevant for those working in forensic, clinical, correctional, and legal environments.

  • Experience Level

      This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.
    • Beginner: New to sanity evaluations or forensic mental health assessments.
    • Intermediate: Some experience with forensic evaluations, seeking to deepen knowledge and skills.
    • Advanced: Extensive experience, looking to refine expertise or stay updated on best practices and complex cases.

  • Practice Setting

    • Mental health professionals specializing in forensic psychology, psychiatry, and clinical psychology.
    • Professionals who conduct or are interested in conducting sanity evaluations in forensic settings.
    • Individuals working in forensic settings (e.g., courts, forensic hospitals), clinical settings, correctional facilities, and legal environments.

Presented By

Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP

Terry Kukor, Ph.D., ABPP, is board-certified in forensic psychology, and is a Senior Forensic Psychologist at the Netcare Forensic Center. Dr. Kukor has specialized in criminal forensic evaluation for more than 30 years, during which time he has also done violence risk and threat assessment. He teaches multiple workshops for the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) including Critical Thinking in Forensic Evaluation. He is a threat assessment consultant for Work Trauma Services Inc., and consults with a regional office of the FBI. In 2016, he was recognized with the Howard H. Sokolov Forensic Mental Health Leadership Award, presented by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. In 2019, he was granted the Distinguished Contributions to Forensic Psychology Award by AAFP.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Assessing religious beliefs in sanity evaluations.

  • Amnesia and insanity.

  • Sanity and seizures.

  • Sanity and sleep disorders.

  • Managing discrepant data in sanity evaluations.

  • Relevant case law and literature.

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).



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.