1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Suggestibility in Children: Clinical and Forensic Considerations is presented by Jerrod Brown, PhD.

Although suggestibility may occur at any age, children may be particularly vulnerable depending on the environment and a host of social, emotional, and psychological variables. This risk is due to cognitive factors (e.g., memory and attentional capacity) and social factors (e.g., psychosocial immaturity and avoidance coping styles) that are heavily influenced by human development. As such, the likelihood of suggestibility substantially decreases as a child advances into adolescence and adulthood. Beyond these cognitive and social factors, suggestibility is also influenced by situational factors, including leading and repetitive questions and the presentation of false information. Such situational features are commonplace in clinical and forensic settings (e.g., police interrogations and trials), which raises concerns that children may be prone to memory disturbances with harmful legal consequences (e.g., false confessions and wrongful convictions). This program is designed to help professionals in clinical and forensic settings decrease the likelihood of suggestibility among children. Topics addressed include defining suggestibility, discussing the developmental needs of children, identifying tactics to maximize the accuracy of memories, and reviewing the needs of future research.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the forensic and legal implications of suggestibility in children
  • 2 Describe situational, cognitive, and social factors that contribute to suggestibility in children
  • 3 Describe interview approaches that reduce the risk of suggestibility in children

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and legal professionals who want to understand suggestibility in children and how it can impact clinical and forensic outcomes. It is designed for those specializing in areas such as forensic psychology, clinical child psychology, developmental psychology, and legal consulting, with a focus on minimizing memory distortions and promoting accurate reporting in youth. The program covers the mechanisms of suggestibility, strategies to reduce memory errors, and best practices for supporting accurate disclosures among children and adolescents.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Forensic psychologist
    • Clinical child psychologist
    • Developmental psychologist
    • Legal consultant
    • Mental health clinician
    • Social worker
    • Child protection professional
    • Police officer or investigator
    • Correctional facility staff
    • Educator or school counselor

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking foundational knowledge and skills related to suggestibility in children within clinical and forensic contexts.

      • Beginner: Participants are new to the topic of suggestibility in children and may have limited experience applying related concepts in practice. They seek to understand basic definitions, developmental considerations, and introductory strategies to reduce suggestibility and improve memory accuracy in child interviews.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this training typically work in environments where children and adolescents are interviewed, assessed, or supported in relation to mental health, legal, or protective concerns. These settings often involve high-stakes decision-making, such as determining the credibility of a child’s report, assessing trauma, or gathering evidence for legal proceedings. The work environment may be clinical, forensic, educational, or community-based, and often requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Practitioners may encounter children in emotionally charged or stressful situations, where the risk of suggestibility and memory distortion is heightened by the nature of questioning, the presence of authority figures, and the child’s developmental stage.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Outpatient mental health clinics serving children and families
    • Hospital-based child psychiatry or psychology departments
    • Forensic interview centers or child advocacy centers
    • Police stations or law enforcement interview rooms
    • Juvenile justice facilities or correctional institutions
    • Child protective services offices
    • Family or dependency courts
    • School counseling offices or educational support centers
    • Community-based social service agencies
Presented By

Jerrod Brown, PhD

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma, and other life adversities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). Jerrod has also conducted over 200 workshops, webinars, and on-demand training for various organizations and professional and student audiences. In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing a graduate certificate in Neuroscience and Law from Michigan State University. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters and recently co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs. 

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.