Live Virtual Training via Zoom

Philip Stahl, PhD, ABPP, presents a live virtual professional training program on Parenting Plan Evaluations - Introduction: Part 1 in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This introductory program on Parenting Plan evaluations will provide participants with a foundational overview of the evaluation process, including the basics of getting started, relevant professional guidelines and Rules of Court, and approaches to interviewing parents and children. Particular attention will be given to the breadth and depth of information that should be gathered across common case types, as well as parent-child observations, relevant principles of child development, collateral information, and report writing. 

The program will also address how to clearly present evaluation data, analyze and integrate findings, and consider the potential risks and benefits associated with different parenting plan options. 

This program is appropriate for professionals at all stages of their careers, including experienced parenting plan evaluators who may benefit from revisiting foundational concepts and examining critical issues from a fresh perspective. The program is particularly relevant for professionals in solo practice and those specializing in family law. Family law attorneys may also benefit from the content presented, particularly as it relates to understanding the principles, processes, and considerations involved in parenting plan evaluations.

For participants practicing in California, the program will also include specific attention to the California Rules of Court.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe various Rules of Court, Guidelines, Model Standards, etc. for performing parenting plan evaluations
  • 2 Describe the latest research associated with high conflict children of divorce within the context of parenting disputes
  • 3 Describe a model for conducting basic evaluations, gathering breadth and depth of information on relevant family issues
  • 4 Describe critical issues in report writing, and the importance of a cogent analysis for the court

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for professionals involved in family law matters who are responsible for conducting or utilizing parenting plan evaluations. The intended audience includes those who play a key role in assessing family dynamics, understanding child development within the context of divorce or separation, and providing recommendations to the court regarding parenting arrangements.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Parenting Plan Evaluator
    • Family Law Lawyer
    • Child Custody Evaluator
    • Mediator
    • Court-Appointed Special Advocate
    • Social Worker
    • Guardian ad Litem

  • Experience Level

    This introductory training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking foundational knowledge in Parenting Plan evaluations.

    • Beginner: Participants new to parenting plan evaluations or with limited experience in family law settings; seeking to understand basic evaluation procedures, relevant guidelines, and foundational interviewing skills.

    • Pre-licensed: Graduate students, interns, or associates preparing to enter family court or forensic mental health practice; interested in learning core concepts, professional standards, and introductory report writing skills.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals involved in parenting plan evaluations typically work in environments where family dynamics and child welfare are assessed within the context of legal proceedings, such as divorce or separation. These settings are often multidisciplinary, requiring collaboration with legal, mental health, and child advocacy professionals. Workspaces may include private offices, courtrooms, mediation centers, government agencies, or community organizations, where professionals conduct interviews, observe parent-child interactions, review collateral information, and prepare reports for court.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Family court or courthouse offices
    • Private or group mental health practices specializing in family law
    • Mediation and dispute resolution centers
    • Child advocacy organizations
    • Social services agencies
    • Legal aid clinics
    • Government child welfare departments
    • Nonprofit organizations supporting families and children
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

  • Interviewing Parents and Children, with emphasis on the breadth and depth of information needed across common family law cases

  • Child Development and Parent-Child Observations, including developmentally informed considerations when evaluating family relationships and functioning

  • Collateral Information and Data Integration, including gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing information from multiple sources

  • Report Writing and Parenting Plan Analysis, including presenting evaluation data, integrating findings, and considering the potential risks and benefits of different parenting plan options

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.