20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Forensic Psychological Assessment in Custody Litigation: Conceptual Issues, Data Integration, and Advanced Topics is presented by David A. Martindale, PhD, ABPP and James R. Flens, PsyD, ABPP. This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards Child Custody Evaluation Certificate and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues.

This program presents instruction on interviewing methods designed to yield data most relevant to the issues before the court and the processes to be employed in the integration of those data with data obtained through the administration of formal assessment instruments. Basic concepts of psychological assessment are discussed, with emphasis on test selection criteria, reliability, validity (in its various forms), and the manner in which testing conditions affect the reliability and validity of test data. Suggestions are offered regarding ways to effectively explain assessment findings in reports.

Presenters discuss data integration – the process of comparing and contrasting information derived from different data sources. Emphasis is placed on providing effective explanations, in reports and testimony, of the manner in which test data were used in the development of recommendations. Criteria to be employed in selecting formal assessment instruments are presented.

The presenters discuss configural analysis, hypothesis testing, means by which to take situational variables into consideration, response style issues, the use of computer-based test interpretations (CBTIs), and practitioner interpretation.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the role of the standard error of measurement in the interpretation of test data
  • 2 Describe the ways in which factors such as time of day of test administration can contribute to random error
  • 3 Describe the benefits of reviewing test responses with test-takers
  • 4 Describe the significant shortcomings of several often-used tests
  • 5 Describe the distinction between the direct assessment of parenting and the assessment through the use of structured assessment measure of variables related to parenting skills
  • 6 Describe the relevant factors to be considered in the selection of psychological testing
  • 7 Describe the difference between normative data and context-specific base-rate data
  • 8 Describe the ways in which measures of response style can be most effectively used in the interpretation of custody litigants’ test data
  • 9 Describe the manner in which psychological test data are integrated with data obtained through other sources in custody evaluations
  • 10 Describe methods for effectively explaining test data and interpretations in reports and testimony

  • Intended Audience

    This advanced training is intended for experienced clinicians and legal professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in forensic assessment, data integration, and report writing. It is particularly relevant for those specializing in forensic psychology, clinical assessment, legal-psychology consultation, and for attorneys involved in family law or child custody litigation. Participants will develop practical skills for conducting and evaluating forensic assessments, with an emphasis on best practices and effective communication of findings in legal contexts.

    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Clinical Psychologist
    • Legal-Psychology Consultant
    • Mental Health Professional
    • Attorney (Family Law, Child Custody Litigation)
    • Family Law Practitioner

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at varying levels of experience in forensic psychological assessment and custody litigation.

    Beginner:
    Participants with limited experience in forensic assessment or custody evaluations, seeking foundational knowledge of interviewing methods, test selection, reliability, validity, and basic data integration.

    Intermediate:
    Participants with some experience in psychological assessment who wish to deepen their understanding of integrating multiple data sources, advanced test interpretation, and effective explanation of findings in reports and testimony.

    Advanced:
    Participants with substantial experience in forensic assessment, looking to refine skills in configural analysis, hypothesis testing, response style evaluation, and the use of computer-based test interpretations in complex custody cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this advanced training typically work in environments where legal and psychological expertise intersect. These settings require careful evaluation of individuals and families, integration of diverse data sources, and clear communication of findings to courts or legal teams. Workspaces may include private practices, law firms, court clinics, government agencies, or multidisciplinary assessment centers. The environment is often structured, confidential, and may involve collaboration with other professionals such as attorneys, judges, social workers, and mental health practitioners. Tasks are performed in offices, interview rooms, or courtrooms, with a focus on thorough documentation, report writing, and sometimes providing expert testimony.

    • Private forensic psychology or clinical assessment practices
    • Family law firms specializing in custody or divorce cases
    • Court-affiliated mental health clinics or evaluation units
    • Government agencies (e.g., child protective services, probation departments)
    • Multidisciplinary child advocacy centers
    • Hospital-based forensic assessment programs
    • University-affiliated legal-psychology consultation services

Presented By

David Martindale, PhD, ABPP, Consultant

David Martindale, Ph.D., ABPP (forensic) limits his practice to consulting with psychologists, attorneys, and state regulatory boards. He lectures regularly on issues pertaining to evaluations of comparative custodial suitability, served on the AFCC Child Custody Consulting Task Force, and was the Reporter for the AFCC Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation.

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David Martindale, PhD, ABPP

Presented By

Stephen D. Hart, PhD

Dr. Stephen D. Hart obtained BA, MA, and PhD degrees in psychology at the University of British Columbia. He has been on faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University since 1990, and has held the rank of Professor since 2001. He also served as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen in Norway between 2000 and 2021. His expertise is in the field of clinical-forensic psychology, with a special focus on the assessment of violence risk and psychopathic personality disorder. He has co-authored more than 250 books, chapters, and articles. He has served as editor of two scientific journals; a member of the editorial board of eight journals; and ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 journals. He has served as an executive committee member of several professional organizations, including President of the American Psychology-Law Society and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. He has received various distinctions for his professional work, including the Career Achievement Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology, the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Research Excellence in Psychology and Law from the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. He maintains an active practice in violence risk assessment. He has consulted with government agencies from more than 25 countries; led more than 500 training workshops around the world; and given expert evidence before courts, tribunals, inquests, review boards, and parliamentary committees in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

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Stephen D. Hart, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Obtain data

  • Integration

  • Administration

  • Assessment Instruments

  • Assessment Concepts

  • Test Selection

  • Reliability

  • Validity

  • Testing Conditions

  • Reports

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
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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).



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.