6 Hours / 6 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Advanced Issues in Child Custody and Parenting Evaluations is presented by Philip Stahl, Ph.D., ABPP, in partnership with The American Board of Forensic Psychology.

This program focuses on four common areas for evaluation and assessment in matters of child custody: high-conflict families without dynamics of domestic violence, child alienation, domestic violence, and relocation. This program utilizes a combination of didactic teaching about the latest research in these areas, case exploration to discuss options regarding outcomes, and a suggested style of evaluating these cases and providing helpful information to the court. Finally, this program highlights challenging ethical and practice dilemmas and identify common problems seen in child custody work.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe critical differences between high conflict families and those with dynamics of domestic violence
  • 2 Describe the impact of high parental conflict on children’s adjustment to divorce, and the critical variables to consider when making parenting and decision-making recommendations
  • 3 Describe the risks of child alienation in high conflict families and the forces that contribute to that risk
  • 4 Describe research regarding domestic violence when undertaking parenting evaluations with allegations of domestic violence
  • 5 Describe research regarding domestic violence when making parenting time and decision-making recommendations in cases involving families with domestic violence dynamics
  • 6 Describe differences between standard custody evaluations and those involving questions of parental relocation
  • 7 Describe how international relocation cases can be affected by the Grave Risk of Harm exception with the Hague Convention on Abducted Children

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for psychologists who specialize in child custody evaluations and family assessments, particularly those providing assessments and recommendations for court-involved families. It is also suitable for individuals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge in family law and forensic psychology.

    • Psychologist
    • Mental Health Professional

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

    • Beginner: Participants new to child custody evaluations or with limited experience in high-conflict families, child alienation, domestic violence, or relocation cases; seeking foundational knowledge of research, assessment strategies, and ethical considerations.
    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience conducting custody evaluations who wish to deepen their understanding of complex dynamics, apply current research to practice, and refine their approach to challenging cases.
    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in child custody matters, looking to engage with advanced research, address nuanced ethical dilemmas, and enhance their expertise in specialized areas such as international relocation and high-risk cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this training typically work in environments where they conduct psychological assessments and provide expert recommendations for families involved in legal disputes. These settings often require collaboration with attorneys, judges, and other court personnel, as well as direct interaction with children and families experiencing high levels of conflict or complex family dynamics. The work environment may include private practice offices, family court clinics, or multidisciplinary teams within mental health agencies. Practitioners must navigate sensitive situations, maintain objectivity, and adhere to ethical standards while preparing reports and testifying in court.

    • Private practice specializing in forensic and family law assessments
    • Family court-affiliated mental health clinics
    • Community mental health centers with a forensic services division
    • Hospital-based child and adolescent psychiatry or psychology departments
    • Government agencies providing court-ordered evaluations
    • Multidisciplinary teams addressing high-conflict custody disputes
    • Consulting roles for attorneys or child advocacy organizations

Presented By

Philip Stahl, PhD, ABPP

Philip Stahl, Ph.D., ABPP, is a board certified forensic psychologist in private practice in Maricopa County, Arizona whose work focuses on child custody matters. Dr. Stahl is licensed in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Michigan, and has held temporary licensure in many other states. A frequent speaker, he has conducted workshops and trainings for judges, attorneys, child custody evaluators, and others working with high-conflict families of divorce. He is on the faculty of the National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Philip Stahl, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • High-conflict families without dynamics of domestic violence

  • Child alienation

  • Domestic violence

  • Relocation

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.