1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Alexithymia: Clinical and Forensic Implications is presented by Jerrod Brown, PhD.

Alexithymia is a multi-faceted construct characterized by chronic deficits in processing affective information. Individuals with alexithymia often struggle to identify, communicate, and think about feelings and emotions. For instance, a diminished ability to use one’s feelings to guide behavior appropriately in social environments is common among those with alexithymia. Other issues include deficits in emotional awareness and regulation, social attachment, and relating to others, along with an increased likelihood of expressing emotional arousal through somatization (e.g., physical expression of psychological symptoms). Alexithymia has been linked to an array of disorders (e.g., psychiatric, substance use, neurodevelopment, medical, neurological, and psychosomatic), risk-taking behaviors, maladaptive anger expression, poor emotional regulation, decreased treatment response, increased burden on caregivers and family members, and a number of social-emotional problems. Designed for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this training provides attendees with a working understanding of the definitions, causes, and consequences of alexithymia.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the warning signs, risk factors, and definitional features of alexithymia
  • 2 Describe how alexithymia can affect experiences in mental health and criminal justice systems
  • 3 Describe screening options for those with alexithymia
  • 4 Describe appropriate techniques and approaches to manage and support alexithymia
  • 5 Describe cutting-edge research and current gaps in knowledge of alexithymia

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who work with individuals experiencing alexithymia, especially within criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal environments. The program focuses on enhancing skills in assessing and treating challenges related to emotional awareness, regulation, and expression. Participants will gain specialized knowledge relevant to forensic psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and social work, with practical applications for correctional facilities, forensic hospitals, community mental health centers, and legal settings.

  • Experience Level

    • Intermediate to advanced professionals

    • Those with foundational training in mental health or allied fields

    • Practitioners seeking specialized expertise in forensic and legal contexts related to alexithymia

  • Practice Setting

    • Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists

    • Licensed counselors and clinical social workers

    • Mental health professionals working in:
      • Correctional facilities
      • Forensic hospitals
      • Community mental health centers
      • Legal and court-related settings

    • Allied professionals involved in the assessment or treatment of individuals with emotional regulation difficulties

Presented By

Jerrod Brown, PhD

Jerrod Brown, PhD, is the Treatment Director for Pathways Counseling Center, Inc., the lead developer of an online Master of Arts degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Forensic Behavioral Health from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS), and the Editor-in-Chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST) and the Journal of Special Populations (JSP).

View More Programs from this Presenter
Jerrod Brown, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Definitional features

  • Criminal justice system

  • Relevant research

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.