6 Hours / 6 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Assessing Allegations of Trauma in Forensic Contexts is presented by Christina Pietz, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

Assessment of claims of emotional harm and trauma in therapeutic settings is very different from the assessment of these matters in legal proceedings. 

This program provides an overview of the history and conception of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis, including its introduction in the DSM-III. The diagnostic criteria of PTSD in the DSM-IV and DSM-5 are compared, and implications for forensic assessment are discussed. 

The challenges of assessing claims of emotional harm and trauma in forensic contexts are reviewed, and best practices are proposed, with specific consideration of the unique challenges that present in personal injury, disability, and criminal litigation. 

Thorough reviews of the Moral Emotional Numbing Test and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS) are provided, as is a discussion of the utility of the MMPI-2 and PAI in the assessment of complaints of emotional harm and trauma.

 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the development and history of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis
  • 2 Describe the diagnosis and symptom picture of PTSD and related disorders
  • 3 Compare and contrast the DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria for PTSD
  • 4 Identify special challenges of assessing persons alleging emotional harm or trauma in personal injury, disability, and criminal contexts
  • 5 Identify strengths and weaknesses of tests that are frequently used to assess trauma complaints in forensic contexts
  • 6 Identify best practices when assessing litigants reporting emotional harm or trauma.
  • 7 Identify special challenges of assessing complaints of emotional harm and trauma with persons from diverse backgrounds
  • 8 Understand delayed onset of PTSD

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who specialize in forensic assessment, trauma, and psychological evaluation. It is particularly relevant for those involved in personal injury, disability, or criminal litigation cases.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Social Workers
    • Counselors
    • Marriage and Family Therapists
    • Other Allied Mental Health Professionals

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience in forensic assessment of emotional harm and trauma.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to forensic assessment and may have limited experience with PTSD diagnosis, DSM criteria, or the use of standardized assessment tools in legal contexts.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with trauma assessment and are familiar with DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria, but seek to deepen their understanding of forensic applications and best practices in diverse legal settings.

    • Advanced: Participants have substantial experience in forensic assessment of trauma, regularly utilize specialized assessment instruments, and are seeking to refine their expertise in complex or high-stakes legal cases.

  • Practice Setting

    They practice in forensic and medico-legal environments where clinical expertise is applied to independent, non-treatment evaluations under evidentiary and ethical standards, distinct from therapeutic care. Work is multidisciplinary and high-stakes, emphasizing structured trauma assessment aligned with DSM criteria, standardized testing, meticulous documentation, and legally defensible reporting and testimony.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private forensic mental health practice
    • Court-affiliated forensic evaluation clinic
    • Hospital or academic medical center forensic/trauma assessment service
    • Correctional or jail-based mental health evaluation unit
    • Independent medical examination (IME) and insurance/disability assessment center
    • Government disability determination services (e.g., SSA, VA)
    • Victim services or trauma centers with medico-legal programs
    • University-affiliated forensic psychology clinic or lab
Presented By

Christina A. Pietz, PhD, ABPP

Christina A. Pietz, PhD, ABPP, is a Forensic Psychologist at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, MO, and at Burrell Behavioral Health. She has completed psychological evaluations for federal courts throughout the United States, and she has testified as an expert witness in federal court, state court, and military court. Dr. Pietz is also Director of Forensic Training at the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology and Past President of the American Board of Forensic Psychology. Currently, she serves on the American Board of Psychology Board of Trustees as the representative for the American Board of Forensic Psychology.
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.