psychological evaluations in child custody and dependency cases a primer for attorneys daniel p....
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PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONSEVALUATIONS
IN CHILD CUSTODY AND IN CHILD CUSTODY AND DEPENDENCY CASESDEPENDENCY CASES
A PRIMER FOR A PRIMER FOR ATTORNEYSATTORNEYS
DANIEL P. TRESSLER, PSY.D.DANIEL P. TRESSLER, PSY.D.
PSYCHOLOGISTPSYCHOLOGIST
Non-medical doctoral practitioner trained Non-medical doctoral practitioner trained in diagnosis and non-medical treatment of in diagnosis and non-medical treatment of mental disorders, including major mental mental disorders, including major mental illness.illness.
Degrees: Ph.D. Psy.D. Ed.D.Degrees: Ph.D. Psy.D. Ed.D. Uniquely trained in the use of psychological Uniquely trained in the use of psychological
tests in the measurement of behavior as tests in the measurement of behavior as part of a Psychological Evaluation.part of a Psychological Evaluation.
Professional Designation: Licensed Professional Designation: Licensed Psychologist.Psychologist.
CAVEAT EMPTORCAVEAT EMPTOR Beware of non-licensed personnel in Beware of non-licensed personnel in
agencies doing “counseling” or “therapy”.agencies doing “counseling” or “therapy”. Beware of non-psychologists calling Beware of non-psychologists calling
themselves psychologists.themselves psychologists. Beware of persons who are not Beware of persons who are not
psychologists calling what they do psychologists calling what they do “Psychological Evaluation”.“Psychological Evaluation”.
If not licensed, one is not a Psychologist.If not licensed, one is not a Psychologist. If not by a Psychologist, it’s not a If not by a Psychologist, it’s not a
psychological evaluation.psychological evaluation.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESMENTAL HEALTH SERVICESWHAT AND WHOWHAT AND WHO
COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPYCOUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY PYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATIONPYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATION PYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONPYCHIATRIC EVALUATION PHARMACOTHERAPYPHARMACOTHERAPY PYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONPYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONEVALUATION
Not just an evaluation done by a Not just an evaluation done by a psychologist.psychologist.
A systematic assessment of an A systematic assessment of an individual’s emotional, intellectual and individual’s emotional, intellectual and behavioral functioning.behavioral functioning.
Usually intended to answer a specific Usually intended to answer a specific question or issue, e.g.:question or issue, e.g.: Ability to parentAbility to parent Ability to protectAbility to protect Diagnosis and treatment recommendationsDiagnosis and treatment recommendations
PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONEVALUATIONDESIRED ELEMENTSDESIRED ELEMENTS
SPECIFIC REFERRAL QUESTIONSPECIFIC REFERRAL QUESTION
Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceAbility to care for childAbility to care for childReadiness for reunificationReadiness for reunificationChemical DependencyChemical DependencyIntellectual CapacityIntellectual CapacityMental IllnessMental Illness
PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONEVALUATIONDESIRED ELEMENTSDESIRED ELEMENTS
PERSONAL HISTORYPERSONAL HISTORY
Family HistoryFamily History Medical and Psychological HistoryMedical and Psychological History Education and EmploymentEducation and Employment Alcohol and Drug UseAlcohol and Drug Use Legal HistoryLegal History
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONDESIRED ELEMENTSDESIRED ELEMENTS
COLLATERAL INFORMATIONCOLLATERAL INFORMATION
Dependency PetitionDependency Petition Judicial ReviewJudicial Review Court PleadingsCourt Pleadings Police ReportsPolice Reports Arrest RecordsArrest Records Medical/Psychological RecordsMedical/Psychological Records
PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONEVALUATIONFORMAL TESTINGFORMAL TESTING
WHAT IS A TEST?WHAT IS A TEST?
A standardized procedure.A standardized procedure. Published, peer-reviewed.Published, peer-reviewed. Able to be interpreted in a standard Able to be interpreted in a standard
manner.manner. Could pass the Frey test.Could pass the Frey test.
PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONEVALUATIONFORMAL TESTINGFORMAL TESTING
INFORMAL PROCEDURESINFORMAL PROCEDURES
InterviewInterview Life History QuestionnairesLife History Questionnaires ObservationsObservations
PROJECTIVESPROJECTIVES
RORSCHACHRORSCHACH Series of 10 “Inkblots”Series of 10 “Inkblots” Has several so-called scoring systems, Has several so-called scoring systems,
not necessarily normed.not necessarily normed. PROJECTIVE DRAWINGSPROJECTIVE DRAWINGS
HTP, HFD, KFDHTP, HFD, KFD No real scoring systemNo real scoring system Interpreted on basis of accepted clinical Interpreted on basis of accepted clinical
lore.lore.
OBJECTIVE TESTS FOR OBJECTIVE TESTS FOR CHILDRENCHILDREN
Personality Inventory for ChildrenPersonality Inventory for Children Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept
ScaleScale RADS, RCDSRADS, RCDS MMPI-A, MACI, MAPI, APSMMPI-A, MACI, MAPI, APS Achenbach (ASEBA) SeriesAchenbach (ASEBA) Series
Child Behavior ChecklistChild Behavior Checklist Teacher Report FormTeacher Report Form Youth Self-ReportYouth Self-Report
THE BOTTOM LINETHE BOTTOM LINE
Interview Interview Collateral Data Collateral Data Test DataTest Data
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Clinical ImpressionClinical Impression||\/\/
RecommendationsRecommendations
CLINICAL CLINICAL IMPRESSION:DSM-IVIMPRESSION:DSM-IV
Axis IAxis I Acute Mental Illness/SyndromeAcute Mental Illness/Syndrome Axis IIAxis II Personality DisorderPersonality Disorder Mental RetardationMental Retardation Axis IIIAxis III Medical ProblemsMedical Problems Axis IVAxis IV Psychosocial StressorsPsychosocial Stressors Axis VAxis V Global Assessment of Global Assessment of
FunctioningFunctioning 0-100 Scale0-100 Scale