PSYCHOLOGICAL
EVALUATIONS
IN CHILD CUSTODY AND
DEPENDENCY CASES
A PRIMER FOR ATTORNEYS
DANIEL P. TRESSLER, PSY.D.
PSYCHOLOGIST
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Non-medical doctoral practitioner trained in
diagnosis and non-medical treatment of mental
disorders, including major mental illness.
Degrees: Ph.D. Psy.D. Ed.D.
Uniquely trained in the use of psychological
tests in the measurement of behavior as part of
a Psychological Evaluation.
Professional Designation: Licensed Psychologist.
CAVEAT EMPTOR
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Beware of non-licensed personnel in agencies
doing “counseling” or “therapy”.
Beware of non-psychologists calling themselves
psychologists.
Beware of persons who are not psychologists
calling what they do “Psychological Evaluation”.
If not licensed, one is not a Psychologist.
If not by a Psychologist, it’s not a psychological
evaluation.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
WHAT AND WHO
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COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
PYCHOSOCIAL EVALUATION
PYCHIATRIC EVALUATION
PHARMACOTHERAPY
PYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
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Not just an evaluation done by a psychologist.
A systematic assessment of an individual’s
emotional, intellectual and behavioral
functioning.
Usually intended to answer a specific question or
issue, e.g.:
Ability to parent
 Ability to protect
 Diagnosis and treatment recommendations
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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
DESIRED ELEMENTS
 SPECIFIC
REFERRAL QUESTION
Domestic
Violence
 Ability to care for child
 Readiness for reunification
Chemical Dependency
 Intellectual Capacity
 Mental Illness
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
DESIRED ELEMENTS
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PERSONAL HISTORY
Family History
 Medical and Psychological History
 Education and Employment
 Alcohol and Drug Use
 Legal History
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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
DESIRED ELEMENTS
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COLLATERAL INFORMATION
 Dependency
Petition
 Judicial Review
 Court Pleadings
 Police Reports
 Arrest Records
 Medical/Psychological Records
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
FORMAL TESTING
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WHAT IS A TEST?
A standardized procedure.
 Published, peer-reviewed.
 Able to be interpreted in a standard
manner.
 Could pass the Frey test.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
FORMAL TESTING
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INFORMAL PROCEDURES
Interview
 Life History Questionnaires
 Observations
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PROJECTIVES
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RORSCHACH
Series of 10 “Inkblots”
 Has several so-called scoring systems, not necessarily
normed.
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PROJECTIVE DRAWINGS
HTP, HFD, KFD
 No real scoring system
 Interpreted on basis of accepted clinical lore.
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OBJECTIVE TESTS FOR
CHILDREN
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Personality Inventory for Children
Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale
RADS, RCDS
MMPI-A, MACI, MAPI, APS
Achenbach (ASEBA) Series
Child Behavior Checklist
 Teacher Report Form
 Youth Self-Report
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THE BOTTOM LINE
Interview
\
Collateral Data
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\/
Clinical Impression
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\/
Recommendations
Test Data
/
CLINICAL IMPRESSION:DSM-IV
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Axis I Acute Mental Illness/Syndrome
Axis II Personality Disorder
Mental Retardation
Axis III Medical Problems
Axis IV Psychosocial Stressors
Axis V Global Assessment of Functioning
0-100 Scale