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