4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Evidenced-Based Forensic Applications of the MMPI-3 is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD.

This program is intended to guide the evidence-based use of the MMPI-3 in forensic psychological assessments. The program begins with a brief refresher on the instrument. The majority of the time is devoted to applications of the MMPI-3 in both criminal (e.g., competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, risk assessment) and civil (e.g., parental capacity, child custody) forensic evaluations. 

Psychometric findings and the peer-reviewed literature from these settings are reviewed, with a particular emphasis on translating this evidence to forensic practice. The program includes a discussion on how to respond to challenges to MMPI-3-based opinions in court, with an emphasis on Daubert and Frye factors. Case illustrations are derived from criminal and civil settings with an opportunity for discussion.

The intended audience is forensic psychologists and advanced graduate students with some forensic programs who want to enhance their knowledge about how to apply the MMPI-3 to a variety of forensic psychological evaluations. The program assumes some familiarity with the MMPI-3 or its predecessor, the MMPI-2-RF. 

Prerequisites: If participants are not familiar with the MMPI-3 (or, at minimum, good familiarity with the MMPI-2-RF), Dr. Sellbom recommends completing the 4-hour Introduction to MMPI-3 prior to the event.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the psychometric findings available to guide MMPI-3 interpretation, with an emphasis on forensic settings, and how they translate into forensic practice
  • 2 Describe the role of psychological constructs assessable with the MMPI-3 when addressing psycho-legal questions
  • 3 Describe to support MMPI-3-based opinions with current empirical evidence and respond to challenges to such opinion
  • 4 Demonstrate MMPI-3 findings in forensic psychological assessments, including criminal and civil court-ordered evaluations.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for individuals with a background in forensic psychology who wish to deepen their expertise in applying MMPI-3 information to forensic psychological evaluations in criminal, civil, or family court contexts. Participants should have familiarity with the MMPI-3 or MMPI-2-RF; those without this background are strongly encouraged to complete the 4-hour Introduction to MMPI-3 course before attending.



    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Forensic psychologists
    • Mental health professionals
    • Advanced graduate students in psychology with forensic training
    • Professionals specializing in forensic psychological evaluation
    • Legal/forensic consultants

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in forensic psychological assessment using the MMPI-3.

    • Beginner: Participants have foundational knowledge of psychological assessment and are newly familiar with the MMPI-3 or MMPI-2-RF, seeking to build confidence in applying these tools to forensic contexts.

    • Intermediate: Participants have experience administering and interpreting the MMPI-3 or MMPI-2-RF and are looking to deepen their understanding of evidence-based applications in diverse forensic settings, including responding to legal challenges.

    • Advanced: Participants are seasoned forensic evaluators with substantial experience using the MMPI-3 in court-involved cases and seek to refine their expertise in complex case analysis, expert testimony, and integration of current research into high-level forensic practice.

  • Practice Setting

    • Forensic psychologists
    • Advanced graduate students in psychology with forensic training
    • Professionals specializing in forensic psychological evaluation
    • Individuals working in criminal, civil, or family court contexts
    • Practitioners in private forensic practice, legal/forensic consulting, or academic settings
Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD

Martin Sellbom is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from Kent State University (USA). His research focuses on personality disorders, contemporary psychopathology models, and personality assessment with the MMPI instruments. Professor Sellbom's work has been featured in over 300 publications that includes four books, including the forthcoming (co-authored with Dustin Wygant) Forensic Mental Health Assessments using the MMPI-3. He has won several awards, including the American Psychological Foundation’s Theodore Millon mid-career award for advancing personality science, American Psychology-Law Society’s Saleem Shah Award and Society for Personality Assessment’s Samuel and Anne Beck Award for early career achievement. Professor Sellbom serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Personality Assessment. For his clinical practice, he specializes in forensic psychological evaluations.



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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.