10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Risk Management for Custody Evaluators and Court Involved Therapists is presented by David A. Martindale, PhD, ABPP. This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards Child Custody Evaluation Certificate and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues.

Mental health professionals performing forensic psychological evaluations in litigated custody/access disputes, and those who function as treatment providers to parents and/or children who are involved in such litigation, frequently express concern regarding the risk of licensing board complaints. For evaluators, this program provides information regarding specific techniques that serve to reduce litigant animosity, a common precipitating factor in the filing of complaints. For treatment providers, this program explores appropriate and inappropriate testimony content and the risks to the therapeutic alliance of therapist testimony.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the link between animosity experienced by service recipients and the filing of complaints against service providers
  • 2 Describe the decision-making procedures likely to be employed by regulatory agencies in processing complaints
  • 3 Describe the operation of immunity provisions, and the many exceptions to those provisions
  • 4 Describe the basic elements of the agreement between the service provider (evaluator or therapist) and the service recipient (evaluee or therapy client)
  • 5 Describe the types of testimony (by evaluators or by treatment providers) that increase the risk of complaints
  • 6 Describe the basic elements of a malpractice action

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for professionals seeking to enhance their skills and understanding of custody and access evaluations, along with the associated professional and ethical considerations. It is suitable for individuals working in fields that intersect with legal, mental health, and social service systems, and provides practical insights relevant to a range of disciplines, including forensic psychology, clinical child and family psychology, criminal justice, health care, education, and human resources.

    • Forensic Psychologist
    • Clinical Child/Family Psychologist
    • Mental Health Professional
    • Criminal Justice or Security Professional
    • Social Service or Community-Based Program Staff
    • Health Care Provider
    • Educator or School Counselor
    • Human Resources Professional

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

    • Beginner: New to forensic evaluations or court-involved therapy; seeking foundational knowledge about risk factors for licensing board complaints, basic legal concepts, and the impact of testimony on therapeutic relationships.
    • Intermediate: Some experience with court-involved cases; looking to deepen understanding of regulatory procedures, immunity provisions, and advanced risk management strategies.
    • Advanced: Extensive experience in forensic or court-involved practice; interested in refining techniques to reduce litigant animosity, navigating complex complaint scenarios, and mastering testimony practices to minimize professional risk.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where legal, mental health, and social service systems intersect. These settings often involve high-stakes decision-making regarding child custody and access, requiring collaboration with courts, attorneys, families, and other professionals. Workplaces may include private practices, hospitals, community agencies, schools, correctional facilities, and government organizations. The environment is often multidisciplinary, with a focus on assessment, intervention, and consultation in cases involving family law, child welfare, or workplace disputes.

    • Private forensic or clinical psychology practices conducting custody/access evaluations
    • Family court clinics or court-appointed evaluation services
    • Community mental health centers providing therapy to court-involved families
    • Hospitals or health care systems with behavioral health or child protection teams
    • Social service agencies supporting families in legal or custody disputes
    • School counseling offices addressing custody-related student needs
    • Correctional or juvenile justice facilities with family assessment services
    • Human resources departments managing workplace custody or family leave issues

Presented By

David Martindale, PhD, ABPP, Consultant

David Martindale, Ph.D., ABPP (forensic) limits his practice to consulting with psychologists, attorneys, and state regulatory boards. He lectures regularly on issues pertaining to evaluations of comparative custodial suitability, served on the AFCC Child Custody Consulting Task Force, and was the Reporter for the AFCC Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluation.

View More Programs from this Presenter
David Martindale, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Evaluators
    This program provides information regarding specific techniques that serve to reduce litigant animosity, a common precipitating factor in the filing of complaints.

  • Treatment Providers
    This program explores appropriate and inappropriate testimony content and the risks to the therapeutic alliance of therapist testimony.

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
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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.