4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Interviewing Children to Preserve Accurate Testimony: An Overview is presented by David W. Thompson, PhD, ABPP, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

This program covers the basic tenets of investigative interviews of children utilized in criminal and child abuse investigations. Participants learn to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of these interviews and understand the skills necessary to accurately interview children in a forensic context. Participants are introduced to an objective assessment of interview quality and survey the skills needed to testify to those findings. While this program is designed to survey the necessary skills for critically reviewing child investigative interviews, it is not actually designed to teach conducting such interviews. 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe classic research studies related to child forensic interviewing
  • 2 Describe three research-based approaches to child forensic interviews
  • 3 Describe the critical components of a child forensic interview
  • 4 Describe the role of child language development in the child forensic interview, with special emphasis on individual and cultural diversity

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for professionals in mental health, social work, and allied fields who are involved in evaluating investigative interviews of children in criminal and child abuse cases. It is designed for those who wish to develop or enhance their skills in forensic interviewing, child welfare, and legal processes related to child protection, including those specializing in forensic psychology, child psychology, social work, and related disciplines.

    Job titles or roles:

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Counselor
    • Therapist
    • Social Worker (child welfare, family services, protective services)
    • Forensic Interviewer
    • Case Manager
    • Child Advocate
    • Law Enforcement Personnel involved in child abuse investigations
    • Legal Professional working with child witnesses or victims

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for beginner-level licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking foundational knowledge in the review of child forensic interviews.

    Beginner:
    Participants have limited or no prior experience with child forensic interviewing, investigative interviews in criminal or child abuse contexts, or the objective assessment of interview quality. They are seeking to build foundational understanding of research, best practices, and the critical components of child forensic interviews, including considerations of child language development and diversity.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who evaluate investigative interviews of children in criminal and child abuse cases typically work in multidisciplinary environments that prioritize child safety, legal compliance, and trauma-informed care. These settings often involve collaboration among mental health providers, social services, law enforcement, and legal professionals. Workspaces may include child advocacy centers, government agencies, hospitals, mental health clinics, family courts, and law enforcement units. The environment is structured to support sensitive, confidential, and objective review of interviews, often with access to specialized technology for recording and analyzing interviews, and resources for ongoing professional development.

    • Child Advocacy Centers (CACs)
    • Government child protective services offices
    • Hospital-based child protection teams
    • Outpatient mental health clinics specializing in child and family services
    • Family or juvenile court systems
    • Law enforcement agencies with child abuse or special victims units
    • Nonprofit organizations focused on child welfare and advocacy
    • Forensic assessment centers
    • University-based research or training programs in child protection

Presented By

David W. Thompson, Ph.D., ABPP, Board-certified forensic psychologist (ABPP) · Private Practice

David W. Thompson, Ph.D., ABPP, is a board-certified forensic psychologist (ABPP). He is in private practice in clinical and forensic psychology, and previously served as the Deputy Director of the Walworth County, Wisconsin Health & Human Services Department. Dr. Thompson conducts training for law enforcement and child investigative staff, and provides expert testimony concerning the interview and investigative processes.

View More Programs from this Presenter
David W. Thompson, Ph.D., ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Cover the basic tenets of investigative interviews of children utilized in criminal and child abuse investigations

  • Learn to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of these interviews, and understand the skills necessary to accurately interview children in a forensic context

  • Introduce objective assessment of interview quality and will survey the skills needed to testify to those findings

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.