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.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Marriage and Family Therapist
    • Other Allied Mental Health Professional

  • Experience Level

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

    • Beginner: Participants new to forensic assessment or with limited experience differentiating between clinical and legal evaluations of trauma; seeking foundational knowledge of PTSD history, diagnostic criteria, and basic assessment tools.
    • Intermediate: Clinicians with some experience in trauma assessment, familiar with DSM criteria and standard measures, seeking to deepen understanding of forensic best practices and challenges in legal contexts.
    • Advanced: Experienced professionals with substantial forensic assessment background, aiming to refine skills in complex cases, evaluate nuanced presentations, and apply best practices with diverse populations and specialized assessment instruments.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where clinical expertise intersects with legal processes. Their practice settings often involve conducting psychological evaluations, forensic assessments, and trauma-focused interviews for individuals involved in legal matters such as personal injury, disability claims, or criminal litigation. These environments require a high degree of objectivity, familiarity with legal standards, and the ability to communicate findings to courts, attorneys, or administrative bodies. Work may occur in private practices, hospitals, government agencies, or specialized forensic clinics, often involving collaboration with legal professionals and multidisciplinary teams.

    • Private forensic psychology or mental health practices
    • Hospital-based forensic psychiatry or psychology departments
    • Government agencies (e.g., court clinics, correctional facilities, disability determination services)
    • Community mental health centers with forensic assessment services
    • Academic medical centers or university-affiliated clinics specializing in forensic evaluation
    • Consulting roles for law firms, insurance companies, or public defenders’ offices

Presented By

Christina Pietz, PhD, ABPP, Forensic Psychologist at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners

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.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Christina Pietz, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Overview of the history and conception of PTSD

  • Compare the diagnostic criteria of PTSD in the DSM-IV and DSM 5

  • Review the utility of assessments such as the MMPI-2 and PAI in complaints of emotional harm and trauma.

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.