10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on The Behavioral Science of Firearms: A Mental Health Perspective on Guns, Suicide, and Violence is presented by Gianni Pirelli, Ph.D., ABPP.

In this program, Dr. Pirelli addresses the present and emerging issues related to the intersection of guns and mental health within the context of his Know (K), Ask (A), Do (D) framework. He provides a comprehensive overview of firearms, including their history, relevant statistics, gun basics, gun-related subgroups, and firearm policies and laws. In addition, Dr. Pirelli addresses issues associated with guns and mental health, violence and domestic violence, and suicide. In addition, Dr. Pirelli outlines the emerging roles of mental health professionals in firearm-related matters, including those associated with evaluation, treatment, teaching, and research. Applied clinical concepts and case examples are presented.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe gun basics and gun safety principles
  • 2 Describe aspects of cultural competence in the firearm arena (gun-related subcultures)
  • 3 Describe firearm laws and policies
  • 4 Describe psychological components of firearm-involved domestic violence, violence, and suicide
  • 5 Describe when and how to ask about guns in treatment and evaluation contexts, including assessing violence, suicide, and firearm-specific risk
  • 6 Describe how to conduct firearm-specific forensic evaluations for gun applicants and owners
  • 7 Describe firearm-related clinical intervention options

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who work with firearm-related mental health issues, violence prevention, and risk assessment. It is suitable for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding and skills in these areas, whether they are new to the topic or experienced clinicians looking to expand their expertise.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Allied Behavioral Health Professional

  • Experience Level

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

    • Beginner: Little or no prior experience with firearm basics, gun safety, or firearm-related mental health issues; seeking foundational knowledge of gun subcultures, laws, and clinical considerations.
    • Intermediate: Some experience addressing firearms in clinical or evaluation contexts; familiar with basic firearm laws and safety, and seeking to deepen skills in risk assessment, cultural competence, and intervention strategies.
    • Advanced: Extensive experience integrating firearm-related issues into clinical, forensic, or research practice; seeking advanced concepts in firearm-specific evaluations, policy, and emerging professional roles.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who participate in this training typically work in environments where mental health intersects with issues of firearm safety, violence prevention, and risk assessment. These settings are often multidisciplinary, requiring collaboration with law enforcement, legal professionals, healthcare providers, and community organizations. The work environment may be clinical, forensic, or community-based, and often involves direct client care, risk evaluations, crisis intervention, and policy consultation. Practitioners may encounter individuals or families affected by gun violence, those at risk of suicide, or clients navigating firearm-related legal or safety concerns.

    • Outpatient mental health clinics
    • Hospital behavioral health units
    • Community mental health centers
    • Private practice offices
    • Forensic evaluation centers
    • School counseling offices
    • Crisis intervention teams
    • Domestic violence shelters
    • Veterans’ health programs
    • Correctional or probation services
    • Integrated primary care settings
    • Research or academic institutions

Presented By

Gianni Pirelli, PhD, ABPP, Certified in Forensic Psychology, and a Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Pirelli is Board Certified in Forensic Psychology, and a licensed psychologist in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He is a leading expert in the firearms and mental health arena, as well as in forensic psychology practice ethics and procedures. He leads the group practice, Pirelli Clinical and Forensic Psychology, LLC, a team of licensed doctors conducting evaluations in a range of administrative, civil, and criminal matters. Dr. Pirelli has conducted over 1,000 evaluations and testified over 100 times in private practice. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice, Dr. Pirelli has remained active in research, training, and professional service. His primary areas of research pertain to forensic mental health assessment (FMHA), ethics and standards of practice in forensic psychology, and guns and mental health. He has given many professional conference presentations and invited talks, and he has numerous publications, including being the lead on three (3) books published by Oxford University Press: The Ethical Practice of Forensic Psychology: A Casebook (2017); The Behavioral Science of Firearms: A Mental Health Perspective on Guns, Suicide, and Violence (2019); and Firearms and Clinical Practice: A Handbook for Medical and Mental Health Professionals (2023). Dr. Pirelli has also published chapters in seminal texts such as the Handbook of Forensic Psychology (4th Edition), and his articles have been published in leading practice-oriented journals such as the Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology; the Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice; Professional Psychology: Research and Practice; and Psychology, Public Policy and Law. Of additional note is Dr. Pirelli’s research has been cited in amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court and the New York State Court of Appeals, and in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice final report (2020).

View More Programs from this Presenter
Gianni Pirelli, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • This program outlines the emerging roles of mental health professionals in firearm-related matters, including those associated with evaluation, treatment, teaching, and research.

  • Applied clinical concepts.

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.