Essentials for Psychologists in Clinical Practice: Identifying and Navigating Forensic Issues
ON-DEMAND WEBINAR
Instructor: Gianni Pirelli, Ph.D., ABPP
Instructional Level: Intermediate (at least basic knowledge of the APA Ethics Code and related concepts and principles are needed)
1 CE credit for Psychologists (APA)
1 CE credit for New York Psychologists (NYSED)
Price: $25
This is a recording of a previously held live webinar. In order to receive CE credits, users will be required to pass a post-test after watching the video.
Description
Psychologists in clinical practice, independent or in systems, must be able to identify and navigate forensic issues, especially when working in purely clinical, non-forensic roles. Therefore, Dr. Pirelli will review applied concepts relevant to psychologists, particularly those in therapeutic contexts; namely, he will provide attendees with a working framework to manage forensic issues that routinely arise in clinical practice. For example:
- Requests for write ‘letters’ or ‘clearances’ that are forensic or quasi-forensic in nature (e.g., suitability/risk to return to school or work, firearm clearance, disability, child-custody related);
- Duty to warn and protect reporting requirements
- Interfacing with clients who have legal involvement and other potential dual-role-related concerns; and
- Receiving and responding to subpoenas as well as other contacts with attorneys and courts, such as release of data and deposition requests.
Dr. Pirelli also reviews certain particularly important principles of forensic practice, so viewers can distinguish between forensic and therapeutic roles because doing so is a critically important step in reducing professional risk and liability. In addition to his extensive research and publication records, Dr. Pirelli has run a full-time independent practice for the past 10 years. Therefore, he weaves in illustrative case examples throughout this applied workshop. Of additional note: Dr. Pirelli provides expert advice, albeit not legal advice, based on his extensive expertise in the field of forensic psychology, including but not limited to professional ethics and standards of practice.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between therapeutic and forensic roles and identify essential components of engaging in ethical (clinical) psychology practice, including specific corresponding ethical practice standards, professional guidelines, and leading sources from the professional literature.
- Apply ethical standards and professional guidelines to forensic issues that routinely arise in clinical practice (e.g., requests for forensic and quasi-forensic letters and clearances; duty to warn and protect reporting requirements; working with clients who are legally-involved and other potential dual role-related situations; and corresponding to attorneys and courts).
Instructor Bio
Dr. Pirelli is 1 of just 5 people who is Board Certified in Forensic Psychology based out of New Jersey, and 1 of approximately 300 or so nationally. He is a Licensed Psychologist in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and he leads the group practice, Pirelli Clinical and Forensic Psychology, LLC. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice, he has remained active in research, training, and professional service. Dr. Pirelli's primary areas of research pertain to forensic mental health assessment (FMHA), ethics and standards of practice in forensic psychology, and guns and mental health. He has given many professional conference presentations and invited talks, and he has numerous publications, including being the lead on three (3) books published by Oxford University Press: The Ethical Practice of Forensic Psychology: A Casebook (2017); The Behavioral Science of Firearms: A Mental Health Perspective on Guns, Suicide, and Violence (2018); and Firearms and Clinical Practice: A Handbook for Medical and Mental Health Professional (in press). He also has published chapters in seminal texts such as the Handbook of Forensic Psychology (4th Edition), and his articles have been published in leading practice-oriented journals such as the Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology; the Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice; Professional Psychology: Research and Practice; and Psychology, Public Policy and Law. Of additional note is Dr. Pirelli’s research has been cited in amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court and the New York State Court of Appeals, and in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice final report (2020).
Dr. Pirelli does not have any conflicts of interest for this program.
Contact Us
For questions, please contact: ce@gsapp.rutgers.edu or call (848) 445-3577
Continuing Education Information
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0123.
Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.