1.5 Hours / 1.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on MMPI-3 in Violence Risk Assessments is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD.

This intermediate-level program will discuss the role of the recently released 335-item MMPI-3 to psychologists who conduct violence risk assessments. 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 violence, and sexual reoffending risk assessments, and scientific support for using the test in such evaluations are discussed. Given the importance of psychopathy in these assessments, the MMPI-3 assessment of such will be discussed as well. Case illustrations for which MMPI-3 data was used in risk assessments 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 violence risk assessment
  • 2 Describe various considerations for using the MMPI-3 in violence risk assessment
  • 3 Describe how to use the interpret the MMPI-3 in the context of violence risk assessments

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who conduct violence and sexual reoffending risk assessments using the MMPI-3. It is tailored for those with a background in forensic or clinical psychology, psychiatry, or related fields, and who have expertise in psychological testing, risk assessment, and the evaluation of psychopathy and related risk factors.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Psychologists
    • Psychiatrists
    • Clinical Social Workers
    • Allied professionals involved in forensic or risk assessment work
    • Practitioners specializing in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, or psychiatry

  • 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 violence risk assessment contexts.

    • Intermediate: Participants have prior experience with MMPI-3 administration and interpretation, and are seeking to deepen their understanding of its application in violence and sexual reoffending risk assessments.

    • Advanced: Participants are highly experienced in forensic assessment and MMPI-3 interpretation, and are looking to refine specialized skills and integrate the latest research and case-based strategies into complex risk evaluations.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals practice in structured, legally driven evaluation settings that require secure procedures, standardized testing with the MMPI-3, and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams. They conduct violence and sexual reoffending risk assessments, integrate records and collateral information, and produce legally defensible reports for high-stakes decisions.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Correctional facilities and detention centers
    • Forensic inpatient hospitals and secure psychiatric units
    • Court-affiliated clinics and risk evaluation services
    • Community-based forensic assessment programs and outpatient clinics
    • Specialized sex offender assessment and treatment programs
    • Probation, parole, and pretrial services agencies
    • Civil commitment/SVP evaluation programs
    • Private forensic practices and government consultation services

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.

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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.