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 suitable for those who wish to develop or enhance their skills in forensic interviewing, child welfare, and legal processes related to child protection.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals (psychologists, counselors, therapists)
    • Social Workers (child welfare, family services, protective services)
    • Forensic Interviewers
    • Case Managers
    • Child Advocates
    • Law Enforcement Personnel involved in child abuse investigations
    • Legal Professionals working with child witnesses or victims

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience in child forensic interviewing review and assessment.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to the concepts of child forensic interviewing and have limited or no prior experience reviewing or assessing investigative interviews of children.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with child forensic interviewing concepts, may have reviewed interviews in practice or training, and seek to deepen their understanding of research-based approaches and objective assessment.

    • Advanced: Participants have substantial experience in reviewing or assessing child forensic interviews, are familiar with research and best practices, and seek to refine their skills in critical analysis and expert testimony.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals practice in multidisciplinary, trauma-informed environments within the child protection and criminal justice systems, where recorded child interviews are reviewed to inform case decisions. Work emphasizes objective assessment, documentation, and expert testimony regarding interview quality rather than conducting the interviews themselves.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and multidisciplinary team hubs
    • Child Protective/Family Services agencies
    • Forensic interview units
    • Hospital-based child protection teams
    • Law enforcement special victims/child abuse units
    • Prosecutor’s offices and victim/witness services
    • Juvenile and family courts
Presented By

David W. Thompson, Ph.D., ABPP

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.     


Click the Icon Below to View More Programs by this Presenter

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).


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.