Live Virtual Training via Zoom

Mary Elizabeth Woods, PhD, ABPP, presents a live virtual professional training program on Competence to Stand Trial Evaluations & Competency Training for Individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This training will review the unique challenges and complications that arise when evaluating defendants with Intellectual Disability (ID) in the context of adjudicative competence concerns, as well as when providing competency restoration services. The focus of the workshop will be on the provision of practical and detailed recommendations for how to modify standard practices and procedures to more flexibly accommodate the needs of this population. 

This will include a review of clinical interview modifications, psychological testing considerations, and examples of ways to modify the process to aid in data collection and interpretation. In sum, the focus is on the need for contextual modifications to reduce the incongruence between an individual’s capacity and the demands of the situation (e.g., whether the evaluation, restoration/training, and/or trial process), along with the analogous concept of reasonable accommodations set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (2000).

This training is intended for forensic mental health professionals with experience conducting evaluations of CST, whether in private practice, hospital, or correctional settings.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe three examples of competence-related deficits that are often seen in defendants with Intellectual Disability (ID)
  • 2 Describe at least two specific modifications to the clinical interview process that are relevant for this population
  • 3 Describe at least two specific modifications to the clinical interview process that are relevant for this population
  • 4 Describe strategies for how competency restoration programs may be tailored to support individuals with ID

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for forensic mental health professionals who are involved in evaluating adjudicative competence in defendants with Intellectual Disability (ID). The content is tailored to those who regularly navigate the unique challenges and complexities of assessing and restoring competency in this population, requiring practical strategies for modifying standard evaluation and restoration procedures. Attendees will benefit from guidance on adapting clinical interviews, psychological testing, and data interpretation to better accommodate the needs of individuals with ID, ensuring that their assessments and interventions are both effective and compliant with legal standards such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Forensic Psychiatrist
    • Clinical Psychologist
    • Correctional Psychologist
    • Hospital-based Forensic Evaluator
    • Private Practice Forensic Evaluator

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed forensic mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in conducting Competence to Stand Trial (CST) evaluations, particularly with individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID).

    • Beginner: Participants new to CST evaluations or with limited experience assessing individuals with ID; seeking foundational knowledge of diagnostic criteria, vulnerabilities, and basic modifications to standard assessment and restoration practices.
    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience conducting CST evaluations, familiar with general forensic assessment procedures, and seeking to deepen their understanding of specialized modifications, psychological testing considerations, and case-specific strategies for individuals with ID.
    • Advanced: Participants with extensive experience in forensic mental health, regularly conducting CST evaluations and competency restoration services, seeking advanced recommendations for complex cases, nuanced interpretation of assessment data, and leadership in implementing contextual modifications and reasonable accommodations.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who attend this training typically work in environments where they conduct forensic mental health evaluations and provide competency restoration services for individuals involved in the legal system. These settings require navigating complex legal and clinical demands, often within structured, secure, or clinical environments. Professionals may work independently or as part of multidisciplinary teams, adapting their assessment and intervention strategies to meet the needs of individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) while ensuring compliance with legal standards and ethical guidelines.
    • State or county forensic psychiatric hospitals
    • Correctional facilities (jails or prisons)
    • Court clinics or court-appointed evaluation centers
    • Private forensic mental health practices
    • Community mental health centers with forensic services
    • Academic medical centers with forensic evaluation units
    • Outpatient competency restoration programs

Presented By

Mary Elizabeth Wood, Ph.D., ABPP Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Sam Houston State University

Dr. Wood joined the faculty at Sam Houston State University in 2024. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psychology and the Law from the University of Alabama, where she completed focused coursework, research, and clinical work in forensic psychology. She subsequently completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship in Forensic Psychology at Patton State Hospital. From 2017-2024, Dr. Wood was faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). While there, Dr. Wood was a member of the Vanderbilt Forensic Evaluation Team and primary faculty in the Vanderbilt Forensic Psychiatry Clinic. She was also a supervisor in the Forensic Psychology Internship Program, and she was the director of the Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Wood maintains a voluntary faculty appointment in the VUMC Psychiatry Department, where she continues to be the primary research supervisor for both the forensic intern and postdoctoral fellow (see below for current and former trainees). Dr. Wood is licensed as a psychologist in Tennessee, Texas, and through PSYPACT. She is also board certified in Forensic Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). She has conducted over 1,500 forensic evaluations for a myriad of issues including adjudicative competence, conservatorship, capacity to waive Miranda, mental state at the time of the alleged offense, sentencing mitigation, Atkins, etc., and she has testified numerous times in juvenile, criminal, and federal courts. Dr. Wood’s primary clinical and research interests fall at the interface of psychology and the law, with a particular emphasis on the appropriate identification, assessment, and treatment of individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) in forensic settings. She has provided trainings to various groups of professionals, including trainees, mental health providers, and lawyers, in addition to frequently serving as an expert witness in this area. She is principal owner of Wood Forensic Evaluation & Consulting, PLLC, where she continues to conduct forensic evaluations and consult with legal professionals, as well as provide trainings nationwide. Professionally, Dr. Wood is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), and the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), and she is a fellow of the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). She is actively involved in service as well, including as a member of the AP-LS Research Committee, and as member of both the Examination Faculty and Board of Directors for ABFP.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Mary Elizabeth Wood, Ph.D., ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Review diagnostic criteria for Intellectual Disability (ID) and associated vulnerabilities

  • Discuss recommendations for modifying standard assessment practices

  • Review psychological testing relevant to ID cases

  • Examine how test interpretation may differ from other contexts

  • Present case examples to illustrate key concepts

  • Engage participants through audience poll questions

Live Event Policy

Registration for our live events is covered for one (1) person per purchase. If you would like to purchase for a group, please contact our group training team.

  • Event Communications

    When registering, use an email that is active and that you check regularly. We are not responsible for communications not being received; if you do not add [email protected] to your email safe sender list, our emails are likely to end up in your spam or junk folders.

  • Cancellation Policy

    Have a sudden change of plans and are unable to attend live? No worries; you will be given access to the on-demand version of the program once available. Please note that if you attend live, no access to the recording will be given.

  • Event Conduct

    Professional conduct is expected during our live programs. Our goal is to make our events as interactive as possible for all participants. We reserve the right to remove any participants who are disruptive, act unprofessionally, or who we are unable to verify their purchase.

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.