Applied Forensic Psychology: A Survey of Topics
A 6-Session Microcredential Course
Forensic Psychology, in simplistic terms, is the interaction of psychology and the law and legal issues. The Online Programs in Forensic Psychology at The Chicago School want to provide students, faculty in other programs, and the general public an overview of topics in forensic psychology, to enhance participant’s understanding of forensic psychology and how the intersection of counseling and forensic psychology can improve social justice causes.
This Microcredential consists of six modules, from topics relating to diversity and cultural awareness, youth resilience given the complexities of familial and environmental influences, identifying and treating trauma, understanding impression management, to animal-assisted therapy in the forensic context, and providing a thought-provoking conversation on policy-making to inspire participants in making social change in their career. All sessions attended in full earn the “Applied Forensic Psychology” Microcredential. Single sessions on a topic of interest can also be attended for CE/CEU credit.
Registration for this Microcredential course includes access to all 6 sessions (6 hours).
Participants will receive a Digital Badge alongside a CE/CEU certificate upon successful completion of the course.
Event held online via Zoom. Link to access located in Course page upon registration.
When attended in full, this program offers 6.0 CEs for Psychologists, 6.0 IL DFPR CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 6.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 6.0 ISBE CPDUs for Illinois Educators, 6.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 6.0 NBCC Clock Hours. (*NBCC Clock Hours are available for live program attendance only.)
Course Sessions & Schedule
All sessions take place from 8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
Click the arrows below to learn more about individual sessions.
Presented by Mel Morales, PsyD, Michelle Malters, PsyD, and Tera Jones, PhD
8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
The ingrained impacts of systemic oppression and discrimination affect every sector and institution of our society, pushing many to the margins by means out of their control. This course provides a basic framework for understanding privilege and power, systems of oppression and discrimination, cultural competency, and identity when working with clients within forensic settings. It will explore the impact and social construction of culture, gender, ethnicity, class, and race and their effect on the individual’s interactions with the legal system. We will also share strategies to ensure that you are providing culturally responsive and affirming care.
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Presented by Mel Morales, PsyD and Tera Jones, PhD
8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
What Creates Risk? What Promotes Resilience? The environments in which youth interact critically influence their growth and development. In nurturing environments where needs are met and youth are provided with responsive social care, safety, and encouragement to learn and explore, they thrive as they develop. Alternatively, environments that are unsafe, unpredictable, and unsupportive present threats to children’s normative growth and development. This course provides a research based, trauma-informed, multi-system framework designed to support healthy development, and gives educators, mental health professionals, policymakers, law enforcement/juvenile justice personnel, and direct-service workers in any setting the concrete knowledge they need to understand and promote well-being in youth.
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Presented by Rebecca Smith-Casey, PsyD, JD
8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
This session will focus on considerations around trauma in forensic populations. Participants will be provided an overview of the rates of trauma experienced in adult and juvenile forensic populations, considerations of the impact of early childhood adverse experiences on long-term outcomes in the criminal justice system, and include exploration of the trauma associated with incarceration. The module will provide an overview of empirically supported assessments and interventions for post-traumatic distress to be used with both adult and adolescent populations. The module will also include information related to diversity and cultural issues in assessment and treatment of trauma in forensic populations, highlight ethical issues related to working with populations with a history of trauma and those who are incarcerated, and specific considerations related to those with on-going court involvement.
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Presented by Rebecca Smith-Casey, PsyD, JD
8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
This module will review several differences between clinical and forensic evaluations, define and provide an overview of the research on impression management, identify several psychological measures used in impression management, and provide a background on suggestibility. The module will provide recommendations for ethical practice in forensic evaluations when assessing clients for impression management in the forensic arena. Lastly and importantly, this module will explore the understanding and integration of diversity and cultural variables.
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Presented by James Iaccino, Ph.D. and Jason Meadows, Psy.D.
8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
This module will present the research to date on the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) which has been employed solely or in conjunction with another therapy to assist a variety of clients experiencing a number of mental health conditions. The beneficial role that companion animals play in clients’ physical, emotional, social and/or cognitive functioning will be examined along with some negative effects (e.g., illness and death of animals). Literature reviews, meta-analyses as well as experimental studies will be included on different populations of clients (e.g., military veterans and first responders with PTSD, dual diagnosed patients, those with dementia and autism) to provide a thorough assessment of the AAT intervention that has been used with a range of animals from dogs to horses. Finally, recommendations for future research conducted with AAT will be provided.
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Presented by Erika Liljedahl, Psy.D.
8am-9am PT / 10am-11am CT / 11am-12pm ET
Module six will be a live session to reflect on Modules 1 through 5 and to assist participants on creating a call to action in their careers and to incorporate a policy-making component. This module will provide a synthesis of the Microcredential and provide a live opportunity for participants to ask questions and dive deeper into all topics presented.
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To register for individual sessions, use the links in the session schedule above.
Course Pricing
All purchases include access to both the live, synchronous session(s) as well as the asynchronous Homestudy video recording(s). Completion via Homestudy is still CE eligible. Video recording are uploaded no sooner than seven (7) days after the live session for asynchronous viewing.
*All proceeds will be donated to The Innocence Project.*
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable
Continuing Education
For continuing education information for each session, please visit the individual session pages in the schedule above.
When attended in full, this program offers 6.0 CEs for Psychologists, 6.0 IL DFPR CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 6.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 6.0 ISBE CPDUs for Illinois Educators, 6.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 6.0 NBCC Clock Hours*.
(*NBCC Clock Hours are available for live program attendance only.)
Target Audience: Students, faculty, and any psychologists interested in Forensic Psychology.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available 6.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 6.0 hour of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Illinois Educators. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 hours of continuing professional development units. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an approved provider for continuing professional development by the Illinois State Board of Education.
School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity.
National Board. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 NBCC Clock Hours. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 3036. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. (*NBCC Clock Hours are available for live program attendance only.)
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.