20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Interviewing, Report Writing, and Testifying in Child Custody Cases is presented by David A. Martindale, PhD, 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.

The differences in interviewing techniques, styles, and questions in clinical versus forensic settings are highlighted. Interviewing elements are discussed, as are additional elements such as scheduling matters, cognitive and attitudinal biases, and interviewing styles. There are many components involved in interviewing adults and children. This program describes how to interview litigants, non-party sources, and collateral sources and also describes how to interview (a) credentialed professionals, (b) individuals presumed not to be aligned, and (c) individuals presumed to be aligned. General issues regarding the usefulness and weight of collateral sources are also discussed.

Elements of Interviewing children are discussed, including: Assessing cognitive capacity and maturity; the use of interview facilitation mechanisms; the issue of possible coaching of children; addressing source misattribution; and interviewing the allegedly alienated child(ren). Potential problems with interviewing, including refusals to respond, invocations of the Fifth Amendment, and requests for assistance or emotional support, are also discussed.

Participants learn about organization issues, formulating opinions, preparing drafts, and general issues in relation to Report Writing. Organizational issues include data integration and how to deal with discrepant, incomplete, unreliable, or missing data; and how to conceptualize the intended audience.

This program uses case studies and case law examples to guide participants through how to formulate their opinions in a report. Participants learn how to decide what format to use when drafting the final report and whether it should be reviewed; and who is entitled to review it. The report delivery and distribution are also briefly overviewed. General issues regarding reports are also discussed, including Descriptive reports v. Prescriptive reports; Dispassionate reports v. Persuasive reports; Data, opinions, and recommendations; and articulating limitations.

Finally, the program addresses the issue of offering expert testimony. General issues in establishing the contract, financial responsibility, payment arrangements, discovery, and defining experts are described. Participants also learn about preparing for trial, including file organization, homework, and updating their CV; along with learning opportunities from judicial decisions and trial transcripts. The elements of effective and ineffective testimony by court-appointed evaluators and elements of effective testimony on direct, use of jargon, complex explanations, and more are discussed. Skills needed to respond effectively to aggressive cross-examination; testimony by retained work product reviewers; case-blind didactic testimony; and testimony by treating practitioners are also topics that are covered.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the distinctions between clinical and forensic interviewing
  • 2 Describe at least three biases that must be considering while conducting interviews
  • 3 Describe the key elements of child forensic interviewing
  • 4 Describe the factors to be considered regarding the inclusion of diagnoses
  • 5 Describe different types of forensic reports
  • 6 Describe the elements of admissible expert testimony
  • 7 Describe the distinction between personal opinions and expert opinions
  • 8 Describe at least 3 elements of effective testimony on direct examination
  • 9 Describe at least 3 elements of ineffective testimony on direct examination

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for individuals seeking to develop or enhance their expertise in forensic interviewing, report writing, and expert testimony, particularly those working at the intersection of psychology and law. It is relevant for professionals specializing in forensic psychology, child and family evaluations, or clinical work involving legal matters such as custody or personal injury cases, as well as legal professionals interested in understanding forensic evaluation processes and standards.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Child and Family Evaluator
    • Clinician involved in legal matters
    • Attorney
    • Judge

  • Experience Level

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

    • Beginner: Little or no prior experience with forensic interviewing, report writing, or expert testimony; seeking foundational knowledge of distinctions between clinical and forensic settings, basic interviewing elements, and introductory report and testimony concepts.
    • Intermediate: Some experience conducting interviews or preparing reports in clinical or forensic contexts; seeking to deepen understanding of cognitive and attitudinal biases, child forensic interviewing, and the organization and formulation of forensic reports.
    • Advanced: Extensive experience in forensic mental health; seeking advanced strategies for complex interviewing scenarios, nuanced report writing, and effective expert testimony, including responding to cross-examination and integrating case law into practice.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this training typically work in environments where psychological expertise intersects with legal processes. These settings require careful, unbiased interviewing, comprehensive report writing, and the ability to provide expert testimony in legal proceedings. The work often involves evaluating adults and children in the context of family law, civil litigation, or criminal cases, and collaborating with legal professionals. The environment may be clinical, forensic, or judicial, and often involves high-stakes decision-making, confidentiality, and adherence to legal and ethical standards.

    • Private forensic psychology practices conducting court-ordered evaluations
    • Family court clinics or child advocacy centers
    • Hospital or medical center forensic units
    • Government agencies (e.g., child protective services, probation departments)
    • Law firms or legal aid organizations consulting with mental health experts
    • Courtrooms or judicial chambers (for judges and attorneys)
    • University-based forensic psychology or law clinics
    • Community mental health centers handling court-involved cases

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.

View More Programs from this Presenter
David Martindale, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Interviewing: Participants discuss clinical and forensic interviewing and scheduling matters.
    Adults
    Children
    Potential Problems

  • Report Writing: Participants discuss general issues and learn organizational issues about report writing.
    Organizational Issues
    Opinion Formulation
    Preparing Report Draft

  • Testifying: Participants learn about general issues in access cases and elements of testimony.
    Learning Opportunities
    Preparing for Trial
    Evaluator Elements

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.
View Certificates

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.