Forensic Evaluations

Child Custody & Parenting Time Evaluations

A child custody evaluation is a process in which a psychologist evaluates an entire family, including the parents and all child(ren), with the purpose of making recommendations to the court regarding custody and visitation. The overall purpose of a custody evaluation is to ensure that the needs and best interests of the child(ren) are being met. 

Parenting Capacity & Risk Assessments

The purpose of a parenting capacity or parenting risk assessment is to understand the nature of an identified risk (often identified by Child Protective Services), which may be related to the parent’s psychological functioning. During the assessment, the psychologist assesses the parent’s psychological functioning and the parent’s strengths and weaknesses in parenting. Based on the outcome of the assessment, recommendations are made to ensure that the child(ren) remains safe and their needs are met.

Adoption Evaluations

Individuals or couples who are in the process of adopting a child, are often required by adoption their agency to have a psychological evaluation to assess their emotional stability and readiness to adopt and parent a child. Although each agency has different requirements, a typical evaluation requires the assessment of personality, emotional regulation, parenting style, and interpersonal functioning.

Independent Medical Evaluations (IME)

An Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) is conducted by a psychologist who has not previously been involved in a person’s care. IMEs may be conducted to determine the cause, extent and treatment course for a psychological injury where liability is an issue. The purpose of an IME is to also gain an understanding as to whether an individual has reached maximum benefit from treatment; and whether any permanent impairment remains after treatment. An IME may be conducted at the request of an employer, an insurance carrier, or a law firm to obtain an independent opinion of the clinical status of the individual. 

Employee and Student Risk Assessments

While at work or school, employees and students often focus on their tasks at hand and think little about the potential for violence within their workplace, classroom or campus. When a potential threat is identified, referring the individual for a violence risk assessment is often a helpful and necessary step to assist in identifying the level of risk and making appropriate recommendations to assist in mitigating that risk.

Disability Evaluations

Psychological disabilities are among the conditions that can qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). A person may qualify for benefits with a severe mental illness that prevents him/her from maintaining gainful employment. In addition to performing intelligence and/or memory testing, psychological testing, and an assessment of adaptive functioning, a psychologist conducting the evaluation will also interview the claimant about his or her background, including their developmental history, family history, educational history, medical history and psychological/psychiatric history. 

Guardianship Evaluations

Pervasive developmental disabilities, dementia or other incapacitating events  can affect a person’s capacity to meet his or her own needs. A psychological evaluation for Guardianship involves an assessment of an individual’s intellectual, social, and adaptive functioning and related daily demands. Guardians are appointed in order to meet specific needs that a person has which otherwise interfere with independent living.