Ethics in Forensic Psychological Practice
10 hours | 10 CEs
This on-demand professional training program on Ethics in Forensic Psychological Practice is presented by Randy Otto, PhD, ABPP. This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards various certificates. Enroll to earn credit and share your new digital credentials with prospective employers and colleagues. This program counts as a foundational program in the certificates:
- Criminal Forensic Assessment Certificate
- Child Custody Evaluation Certificate
- Civil Forensic Assessment Certificate
- Juvenile Forensic Assessment Certificate
- Violence Risk Assessment Certificate
Using a case study approach, this program reviews ethical challenges/issues commonly encountered by forensic psychologists. After introducing an ethical decision-making framework and identifying the various sources of authority that can impose obligations on psychologists when providing forensic services, the following challenges are discussed:
- Distinguishing between informed consent, assent, and notification (and when each must be provided and obtained);
- Documenting and communicating findings;
- Issues of multiple roles and relationships, and conflicts of interest;
- Privacy, confidentiality, and privilege in the forensic evaluation and treatment contexts;
- Recording of, or third-party presence during, forensic evaluations;
- Release of reports and test data;
- Examination billing and reimbursement practices;
- Editing/altering reports;
- Offering opinions about persons not examined;
- Obligations to take into account issues of diversity in forensic evaluation contexts;
- Use of social media data; and addressing the substandard practice by peers.
Intended Audience
This on-demand professional training program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals
Experience Level
This on-demand professional training program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.
CE / CPD Credit
APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC Click here for state and other regional board approvals.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program you will be able to:
Describe a 7-step problem-solving process to respond to ethical/legal dilemmas
Describe and locate key sources of authority for forensic psychology practice
Describe conditions under which multiple roles/relationships are permitted, prohibited, and discouraged
Describe the circumstances in which consent must or need not be obtained from forensic examinees
Describe and employ strategies when asked to record, or allow a third party to observe a forensic evaluation
Describe the circumstances/conditions under which psychologists are permitted to offer opinions about persons not examined
Distinguish between privacy, confidentiality, and privilege as applied to forensic evaluation and treatment contexts, and describe how each impacts what information is included in one’s records and testimony
Describe the substandard work of colleagues in such a way that meets one’s ethical obligations
Describe the obligations one has when examining persons who differ in significant ways from groups on which traditional tests were developed
Presented By
Randy Otto, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Otto is Director of Division of Forensic Behavioral Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is licensed to practice psychology in Florida and is board certified in clinical psychology and forensic psychology (ABPP). Dr. Otto has authored books...
Curriculum
1. Introduction
2. Role Issues
3. Privacy Issues
4. Consent Issues
5. Notification Issues
6. Collateral Issues
7. Assessment Issues
8. Record-Keeping Issues
9. Documentation Issues
10. Fee Issues
Develop a Specialty Area of Practice
Transforming mental health professionals into experts
Expert Instructors
Professional training developed and delivered by the field's leading experts
CE Credit
Earn CE credit for meaningful professional training that will elevate your practice
Convenience & Flexibility
Learn at your own pace, from wherever you might be!
Earn Certificates
This is badge-earning course, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like Linkedin.
CE Sponsorship Information
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.