20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Personality Assessment in Forensic Evaluation using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, 2nd Edition, Restructured Form, is presented by Martin Sellbom, Ph.D. 

This introductory level program describes the role of personality assessment in forensic psychological assessment, including the strengths as well as challenges in its use. In particular, this program introduces the 338-item version of the MMPI-2, the MMPI-2-RF, to psychologists working in forensic settings. The MMPI-2-RF is used as the primary personality assessment instrument throughout (though others are referenced as well)

The rationale for and methods used to develop the MMPI-2-RF, the various materials available to score and interpret the test, the psychometric functioning of its scales, and interpretive recommendations are covered. Moreover, a substantial portion of time is devoted to applications of personality assessment instruments in both criminal (e.g., competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, risk assessment) and civil (e.g., parental capacity, child custody) forensic evaluations. Furthermore, some topics of particular importance in forensic evaluations (e.g., malingering, assessment of psychopathy) from a personality assessment perspective are discussed in detail. 

The program also emphasizes discussion on how to defend MMPI-2-RF opinions in court for general purposes of use, with an emphasis on Daubert and Frye's challenges. Finally, participants have an opportunity to practice the recommended strategy for MMPI-2-RF interpretation with forensic case examples. Case illustrations are derived from a variety of criminal and civil settings. 

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the role of personality assessment in forensic psychological assessment
  • 2 Describe the strengths and challenges in the use of multi-scale personality inventories in forensic psychological evaluations
  • 3 Describe the 338-item MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF)
  • 4 Describe the rationale and methods used to develop the MMPI-2-RF
  • 5 Describe how to administer, score, and interpret the MMPI-2-RF
  • 6 Describe the psychometric functioning of MMPI-2-RF scales in forensic settings
  • 7 Describe interpretive recommendations
  • 8 Describe applications of the MMPI-2-RF in criminal forensic evaluations (e.g., competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, risk assessment)
  • 9 Describe applications of MMPI-2-RF in civil forensic evaluations (e.g., parental capacity, child custody, personal injury)
  • 10 Describe topics of importance in forensic evaluations from an MMPI-2-RF perspective, including assessment of malingering, defensiveness, and psychopathy
  • 11 Describe the admissibility of MMPI-2-RF-based opinions in court

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health professionals at all stages of their careers who conduct or plan to conduct forensic evaluations, with a particular focus on the use of the MMPI-2-RF in criminal and civil legal contexts. It is especially relevant for specialists in forensic psychology and personality assessment, as well as clinicians seeking to refine their skills in forensic and legal environments.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Specialist in Forensic Psychology
    • Personality Assessment Specialist
    • Clinician using or planning to use the MMPI-2-RF in legal contexts

  • Experience Level

    This program is designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in personality assessment within forensic psychological evaluation, with a focus on the MMPI-2-RF.

    • Beginner: Participants may have limited or no prior experience with forensic psychological assessment or the MMPI-2-RF and are seeking to understand the basic principles, administration, scoring, and interpretation of the MMPI-2-RF in both criminal and civil forensic contexts.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with psychological assessment and wish to strengthen their ability to interpret MMPI-2-RF profiles, integrate findings into forensic reports, and understand test validity indicators and their implications for credibility and malingering assessments.

    • Advanced: Participants are experienced forensic evaluators or psychologists seeking to refine their MMPI-2-RF interpretation in complex or high-stakes forensic cases, apply advanced psychometric principles, and articulate nuanced test-based opinions in testimony and reports.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where psychological expertise intersects with the legal system. These settings may include forensic units within hospitals, private practices specializing in forensic assessment, correctional facilities, court clinics, government agencies, and community mental health centers. Their work often involves conducting psychological evaluations for legal purposes, providing expert testimony, and collaborating with attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals. The practice environment is characterized by a need for thorough documentation, adherence to legal and ethical standards, and the ability to communicate complex psychological findings in a clear and defensible manner.

    Examples of practice settings:

    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals or units
    • Private practices offering forensic assessment services
    • Correctional facilities (jails, prisons, juvenile detention centers)
    • Court-affiliated mental health clinics
    • Government agencies (e.g., departments of mental health, child protective services)
    • Community mental health centers with forensic evaluation contracts
    • Academic medical centers with forensic psychology programs
    • Consulting roles for attorneys or courts in criminal and civil cases
Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD

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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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Participants learn about scoring and interpreting the MMPI-2-RF, the psychometric functioning of its scales, and interpretive recommendations
    Defend MMPI-2-RF
    Practice Strategies
    Case Illustrations
    Application

  • Participants learn about applications of personality assessment instruments in criminal and civil forensic evaluations
    Competency to Stand Trial
    Criminal Responsibility
    Risk Assessment
    Parent Capacity
    Child Custody

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).

Sponsorship Approval Statements

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.