Forensic psychology is the application of psychological methods and principles

From the very early age of 10, I knew that I wanted to be a psychologist. My father was a decorated WWII veteran, and I was always aware that his service and liberating the suffering of people was heroic, but I saw first-hand that it came with significant personal sacrifices.

I think that I always had it in the back of my mind that I, too, would help alleviate other's suffering, but I was curious about the way the mind worked and the complexities of symptoms — which led me to psychology.

I grew up in a rather large extended family that employed four generations of family members. This was fertile ground for significant conflict, in-fighting, alliances, and estrangements. I learned early on that one should lean on the legal system to resolve conflict, as various members of my family were in litigation with each other.

So, while I did not deliberately decide to pursue a career in forensic psychology, I was drawn toward understanding the application of the science of psychology to questions and issues related to law and the legal system.

My choice of graduate program was the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) in Berkeley, California, to pursue my Ph.D. CSPP (now merged with Alliant International University) was accredited by both the American Psychological Association and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

It was the first free-standing school of professional psychology in the nation, as the goal was to train doctoral-level psychologists in professional practice models. Before applying to this program, I had majored in psychology at University of Southern California as an undergraduate.

CSPP took classroom learning and integrated it with the application of knowledge in a variety of field placements. This was a radical departure from what was then the prevalent focus on theory and research and prepared me for my professional journey into clinical and forensic psychology.

Prior to attending graduate school, I volunteered at a suicide crisis helpline, an adult day treatment program, and a children's partial hospital program. I was also employed at a juveniles in need of supervision shelter and a juvenile detention center.

At the juvenile detention center, I encountered many children who had faced legal trouble stemming from the impact of being raised in chaotic, oppressed, multi-traumatized families and communities. I diversified my experiences in graduate school, working with various patient populations in a state prison medical facility, private psychiatric hospital, residential, outpatient and community mental health settings.

All of these trainings prepared me to work with a multitude of diagnostic and challenging cases in assessment and psychotherapy.

After graduating, I remained at my postdoc training site in Oakland, California, and eventually headed the psychological assessment component there. I also began teaching a class in child assessment and intervention at The Wright Institute.

I concurrently had established a private practice, having been licensed as a marriage, family, child therapist. That practice began to grow as I learned that the field was not yet saturated with psychologists who could assess and treat young children. I started providing psychological evaluations on children for mediators in family court, and within a short period of time, I was asked to offer time-share and custody recommendations.

I participated in a six-month training program for child custody evaluators and mediators and attended additional seminars, some through the American Academy for Forensic Psychology. I became more immersed in learning the skills that were essential for working in the forensic sector.

I very much enjoy my forensic work because I am able to assess individuals in highly complex ways in high-stakes evaluations. Assessing individuals and families that present themselves for litigation from an in-depth and rich perspective is very challenging. Having all the information in front of you, figuring out the compelling questions to ask and how to ask them, putting all the data together into a well-integrated report is satisfying.

These narratives can sometimes serve as an intervention because the person has been listened to and understood, and while they may not get the outcome they had hoped, the report helps them understand their psychology and behavior.

There is a finished product that is a consolidation of highly critical thinking, integration of behavioral observations, personal history that may include traumatic experiences, collateral information, and personality adjustment with thoughtful considerations of the relevant research and legal issues to be determined.

After completing one hundred hours of formal education and one thousand hours of experience in forensic psychology, I decided to apply for board certification in forensic psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. It was one of the most challenging professional activities that I have encountered.

I was required to submit two forensic work samples that demonstrated an advanced understanding of the application and intersection of the law and psychology relevant to the cases. There was a written exam that covered all aspects of forensic psychology and an oral examination on my submitted work samples.

In my professional identity, I am a clinician, a professor, a faculty member, a supervisor, a mentor, a child and adult psychotherapist, an assessment psychologist, and a forensic psychologist. I am at the stage of my career where I pick and choose what kinds of cases I want, how much work I want to take on, and how much I charge for my time.

I treat and evaluate children, adolescents, and adults who have a variety of issues, some short-term adjustment, others are longer-term therapy cases. I am also a faculty member at The Wright Institute in Berkeley.

I have been teaching child assessment and intervention, along with adult psychodiagnostic assessment, two year-long classes to Psy.D. students for over 25 years, and have mentored many students along the way.

One has to be able to convey their thinking in well written, well integrated, and professional reports that will be read by judges, attorneys, clients, and other professionals involved in the case. You need to have a complex understanding of personality adjustment, psychological assessment, the law and the legal process, the relevant literature, and be attuned to one's limitations in forming opinions.

When one professional door closes, another door opens. You never know what opportunities will be presented to you, and if you say "no" to something or you don't get your first choice of graduate school, practicum, internship, or postdoc experience, it is not the end of your dreams for your professional career.

Learn the standard of care for providing services in your community and take professional risks, but always get a consultation from someone whose work you respect. No one can fault you for taking on a case that is out of your wheelhouse, as long as you have understood your role, practiced within your scope, been ethical, and sought consultation and guidance when needed.

Additionally, having a person champion your professional development makes a great deal of difference in one's career trajectory.

Adult forensic psychologists examine, treat, and testify on behalf of adult patients' mental states.

Examples of Issues Affecting Adult Offenders

• Substance abuse
• Anger management issues
• Impulse control issues
• Gang activity or involvement
• Sex offenses

Adult forensic psychologists provide crucial input to legal cases, including litigation where criminal competency relates to custody, child welfare, domestic abuse, sex offenses, and other violent crimes. Specialists can evaluate the risk for future offenses, client competency to stand trial, and if individuals feign mental illness or cognitive impairment. Adult forensic psychologists can also provide expert testimony, consultation, and professional training.

Common Job Titles

• Adult forensic psychologist
• Forensic psychologist — adult specialty

This concentration focuses on assessing and treating children and families involved in the legal system.

Examples of Child and Family Psychology Cases

• Child abuse
• Juvenile offenders
• Child custody
• Incest
• Substance abuse

Psychologists in this specialty typically use couples or family therapy sessions to evaluate patients. Evaluating juveniles typically relates to competency to stand trial and ways to address dispositional issues. At times, psychologists determine if a juvenile in superior court should instead receive adjudication in juvenile court.

The court can refer clients to psychologists if they need parent-child counseling, therapeutic supervised visitation, anger management training, divorce adjustment counseling for children, or parental communication skills training.

Common Job Titles

• Child and family forensic psychologist
• Juvenile forensic psychologist
• School forensic psychologist
• Forensic psychologist — child and family specialty

Forensic neuropsychologists study how psychological and physiological brain disorders and conditions impact brain function, potentially resulting in poor impulse control, lack of judgment, or criminal behavior.

Examples of Issues Examined

• Trauma
• Behavioral disorders
• Personality disorders
• Abuse and neglect
• Genetic predisposition

Neuropsychologists working within the legal system often provide insight into how neuroscience and psychology may affect offenders' behavior. Certain areas of the brain (e.g., prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, and temporal lobe) are commonly associated with antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy.

Neuropsychologists examine these areas of the brain and others to determine the risk of criminals reoffending. These professionals also determine insanity and assess prisoners before their release. Additionally, neuropsychologists can testify in court and collaborate with legal counsel for jury selection requirements.

Common Job Titles

• Forensic neuropsychologist
• Neuropsychology forensic specialist

Forensic psychologists specializing in this area apply principles of psychological practice to the law enforcement field. They must maintain expertise in both fields to fully understand situations in which they overlap.

Examples of Law Enforcement Psychology Cases

• Hostage negotiations
• Psychological intervention
• Public safety
• Forensic training and workshops

Law enforcement forensic psychologists find employment in many different settings in educational and forensic capacities. Police officers frequently require the assistance of law enforcement psychologists when dealing with crises such as suicide threats and other traumatic events.

Psychologists also design law enforcement training and stress management programs. This specialty uniquely incorporates comprehensive intervention and recovery technique training to accommodate the high stress levels that accompany the work.

Common Job Titles

• Law enforcement forensic psychologist
• Forensic psychologist — law enforcement