Live Virtual Training via Zoom

Philip Stahl, PhD, ABPP, presents a live virtual professional training program on Parenting Plan Evaluations - Complex Issues: Part 2 in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program will follow Parenting Plan Evaluations - Introduction: Part 1, and highlight four common areas for evaluation and assessment. These include high conflict, Parent-Child Contact Problems, domestic violence, and relocation. 

This program will integrate recent and important research in all of these areas, including international research on relocation. Finally, this program will highlight challenging ethical and practice dilemmas and identify common problems seen in parenting plan evaluations, in particular the influence of cognitive biases on the process of decision-making.

This program is appropriate for professionals at all stages of their careers, including participants who completed Parenting Plan Evaluations - Introduction: Part 1 and wish to build on that foundational content. Even experienced parenting plan evaluators may benefit from revisiting core concepts and considering critical issues from a new perspective. The program is especially relevant for professionals in solo practice and those specializing in family law, and family law attorneys may also benefit from the information and practical considerations presented in the workshop.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the complex research regarding domestic violence and its impact on children
  • 2 Describe the AFCC Guidelines for Examining Intimate Partner Violence into one’s evaluation protocols
  • 3 Describe the personality factors that often contribute to parents’ conflicts with one another
  • 4 Describe the complexity involved in families experiencing children who refuse/resist contact with one of their parents – often referred to as alienated children manage complexity of relocation cases
  • 5 Describe how cognitive bias might compromise objectivity

  • Intended Audience

    This program is designed for professionals who work with families navigating complex issues related to parenting plans, including high conflict, parent-child contact problems, domestic violence, and relocation. It is particularly relevant for those who must integrate current research, ethical considerations, and best practices into their evaluations and recommendations. The content is applicable to individuals who regularly assess family dynamics, address the impact of domestic violence on children, manage cases involving relocation, and recognize the influence of cognitive biases in decision-making.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Parenting Plan Evaluator
    • Family Law Attorney
    • Family Law Specialist
    • Solo Practitioner in Family Law
    • Child Custody Evaluator
    • Mediator
    • Social Worker in Family Law Context

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at all experience levels who wish to deepen their understanding of complex issues in parenting plan evaluations.

    • Beginner: New to parenting plan evaluations or recently completed foundational training; seeking to build knowledge of high conflict, parent-child contact problems, domestic violence, and relocation.

    • Intermediate: Some experience conducting parenting plan evaluations; looking to integrate recent research, address ethical dilemmas, and refine assessment of complex family dynamics.

    • Advanced: Extensive experience in parenting plan evaluations; interested in revisiting core concepts, examining cognitive biases, and exploring nuanced, research-informed approaches to challenging cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this program typically work in environments where they assess, mediate, or provide recommendations regarding family dynamics and parenting arrangements. These settings often involve direct interaction with families experiencing conflict, legal disputes, or safety concerns. Workplaces may include private practices, law offices, court systems, mediation centers, or social service agencies. Professionals regularly collaborate with legal, mental health, and child welfare systems, and must navigate sensitive, high-stakes situations requiring up-to-date knowledge, ethical judgment, and practical skills.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Private offices or clinics where professionals conduct parenting plan evaluations and family assessments
    • Court-appointed roles, such as custody evaluators or mediators, working within the family court system
    • Law firms or solo practices specializing in family law, custody, and relocation cases
    • Social service agencies supporting families affected by domestic violence or high conflict
    • Mediation centers facilitating resolution of parenting disputes outside of court

Presented By

Philip Stahl, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Philip Stahl is a California-based board-certified forensic psychologist (ABFP) in private practice who has conducted approximately 1000 child custody evaluations throughout the US and currently provides consultation and expert witness testimony in child custody litigation throughout the United States, North America, and Australia, usually in relocation, parent-child contact problems, and domestic violence cases. He conducts workshops and training throughout the United States and internationally for lawyers, child custody evaluators, and others working with high-conflict families of divorce. He is on the faculty of National Judicial College, teaching domestic violence to judges since 2000, and regularly speaks at state judicial colleges. 


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Foundations of Parenting Plan Evaluations, including getting started, defining the evaluation process, and understanding relevant professional guidelines and Rules of Court

  • Effects of Parental Conflict on Children Integration of an 18-minute film examining the impact of conflict on a 10-year-old child

  • Application to Parenting Plan Evaluation Practice

  • Case Examples and Practice Considerations Examples drawn from nearly 45 years of experience conducting parenting plan evaluations

  • Questions, Discussion, and Applied Q&A

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.

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), 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.