1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Incorporating the MMPI-3 in Family Court Evaluations is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD. 

This intermediate-level program discusses the role of the recently released 335-item MMPI-3 to psychologists who conduct evaluations for family court. This program assumes background and basic interpretation knowledge of both the MMPI-3 and forensic assessment. The majority of the time is devoted to considerations for using the MMPI-3 in child custody, and parental fitness evaluations and scientific support for using the test in such evaluations are discussed. Case illustrations for which MMPI-3 data was used in family court evaluations are included. 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the psychometric findings available to guide MMPI-3 interpretation in child custody and parental fitness evaluations
  • 2 Describe various considerations for using the MMPI-3 in child custody and parental fitness evaluations
  • 3 Describe how to use the interpret the MMPI-3 in the context of child custody and parental fitness evaluations

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who conduct family court evaluations using the MMPI-3, particularly those specializing in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or psychiatry, and who have expertise in psychological assessment, child custody evaluations, and parental fitness assessments.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Clinical Social Workers
    • Forensic Psychologists
    • Clinicians specializing in child custody and parental fitness assessments
    • Allied professionals involved in family court evaluations

  • Experience Level

    This intermediate-level training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with foundational knowledge of the MMPI-3 and forensic assessment.

    • Beginner: Participants are familiar with basic psychological assessment but have limited experience applying the MMPI-3 in forensic or family court settings.

    • Intermediate: Participants have prior experience with MMPI-3 administration and interpretation, and are seeking to deepen their understanding of its application in child custody and parental fitness evaluations.

    • Advanced: Participants are highly experienced in forensic assessment and MMPI-3 interpretation, and are looking to refine specialized skills and engage with complex case illustrations and current research.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners conduct court-related psychological assessments in forensic and clinical environments to inform judicial decisions on child custody and parental fitness. Their work involves MMPI-3 testing, record review, collateral interviews, comprehensive reporting, and testimony within court-ordered, ethically and legally governed procedures.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Family and dependency courts (court-appointed evaluation units)
    • Private or group practices providing court-ordered custody and parental fitness evaluations
    • Forensic psychology services within hospitals or academic medical centers
    • Community mental health centers with forensic assessment programs
    • Government agencies or contracted providers (e.g., child welfare) for parenting capacity evaluations
    • University-affiliated psychology clinics with forensic training tracks
    • Legal aid, guardian ad litem, or public defender collaborations for evaluation referrals

Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University

Martin Sellbom is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from Kent State University (USA). His research focuses on personality disorders, contemporary psychopathology models, and personality assessment with the MMPI instruments. Professor Sellbom's work has been featured in over 300 publications that includes four books, including the forthcoming (co-authored with Dustin Wygant) Forensic Mental Health Assessments using the MMPI-3. He has won several awards, including the American Psychological Foundation’s Theodore Millon mid-career award for advancing personality science, American Psychology-Law Society’s Saleem Shah Award and Society for Personality Assessment’s Samuel and Anne Beck Award for early career achievement. Professor Sellbom serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Personality Assessment. For his clinical practice, he specializes in forensic psychological evaluations.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Martin Sellbom, PhD

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.