Live Virtual Training via Zoom

Christopher Mulchay, PhD, ABPP, presents a live virtual professional training program on Forensic Psychological Assessment in Custody Litigation: Conceptual Issues, Data Integration, and Advanced Topics.

This live virtual training takes place over four half-day sessions from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm PST / 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST each day. 

  • Thursday, January 21st
  • Friday, January 22nd
  • Wednesday, January 27th
  • Thursday, January 28th

This is a multi-day training event. Participants must attend all scheduled sessions in full to be eligible to receive continuing education (CE) credit. Partial credit will not be awarded.

This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards various certificates. Enroll to earn credit and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues. This program counts as a foundational program in the certificates: Child Custody Evaluation Certificate

This program offers an evidence-informed framework for conducting child custody/parenting plan evaluations. The program will cover the conceptual understanding custody litigation and the foundations of forensic psychological evaluation. The program will help professionals move from clinical roles to a forensic mindset. The program will cover critical components such as forensic interviewing, parent-child observation, document review, and mitigating one’s own personal biases. The workshop will cover psychological testing, report writing, and testimony. Specific issues such as alienation, parent-child contact problems, domestic violence, and parental relocation requests will be addressed.

This program is designed for Mental health professionals, psychologists, social workers, and therapists looking to become evaluators.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the key elements of an evaluator’s Explanation of Policies, Procedures, and Fees
  • 2 Describe the conceptual understanding of a custody litigation
  • 3 Describe custody litigation to other types of forensic evaluations
  • 4 Describe the foundations of forensic psychological evaluation
  • 5 Describe the distinctions between clinical and forensic interviewing
  • 6 Describe the means by which evaluators can maximize the usefulness of collateral source information
  • 7 Describe the essential elements of a custody evaluation report
  • 8 Describe the key elements of effective direct testimony
  • 9 Describe the pertinent factors to be considered in parents’ requests to relocate
  • 10 Describe the steps to be taken in investigating allegations of intimate partner violence
  • 11 Describe the essential elements of effective child forensic interviewing
  • 12 Describe the distinctions between alienation, estrangement, alignment, and visitation resistance

  • Intended Audience

    his program is intended for individuals in the mental health field who are interested in transitioning into the role of evaluator within the context of child custody and parenting plan assessments. The audience includes those seeking to develop a forensic mindset and gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in custody litigation, forensic interviewing, and evaluation processes.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Social Worker
    • Therapist

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals who are new to child custody/parenting plan evaluations and seeking foundational knowledge and skills.

    • Beginner: Participants have limited or no prior experience conducting forensic child custody evaluations and are seeking to develop a conceptual understanding of custody litigation, forensic interviewing, parent-child observation, document review, and the transition from clinical to forensic roles.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this program typically practice in environments where objective, evidence-based assessments are required to inform legal decisions regarding child custody and parenting plans. These settings emphasize neutrality, confidentiality, and adherence to legal and ethical standards. Work often involves collaboration with courts, attorneys, and families, and requires the ability to manage complex family dynamics and sensitive information.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private practice offices specializing in forensic mental health evaluations
    • Family court clinics or court-appointed evaluator roles
    • Community mental health centers with forensic assessment services
    • Government agencies (e.g., child protective services, family services)
    • Multidisciplinary teams within legal or child advocacy organizations
Presented By

Christopher Mulchay, PhD, ABPP

Chris Mulchay, MA, MS, PhD, ABPP, has a new book, Parenting Plan Evaluations, which can be ordered through APA or Amazon. Dr. Mulchay is the co-author of The Field Guide to High Conflict Litigation, as well as the chapters on Child Custody in the Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Law, and the APA Handbook for Forensic Psychology. He has also published recent articles on evaluations of dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADHD, executive functioning, and child custody evaluations. Dr. Mulchay is Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Psychologists (AAFP). authored APA's new book on Parenting Plan Evaluations, along with chapters on child custody in both The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Law (2023) and APA Handbook of Psychology and Law (2025). Dr. Mulchay has also reviewed tests for the Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology. Dr. Mulchay is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Psychologists.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Day 1
    Key concepts, forensic mindset, and foundations

  • Day 2
    Forensic interviewing, parent-child observation

  • Day 3
    Psych testing, record review, collateral interviews

  • Day 4
    Bringing it all together with report writing and testimony

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

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 purchase more than one registration for this event.

  • 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.

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), 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.