Family Forensic Psychology

Abstract

Family forensic psychology (FFP) is an area of specialized psychological practice that lies at the intersection of family psychology, forensic psychology, and the legal system. It is a notably challenging area of practice that encompasses specialized intervention, evaluation, and consultation. This chapter provides a general overview of the field of FFP focused into two areas. First, we will introduce the practice of forensic psychology and describe elements that differentiate forensic practice from general clinical practice. We will then extend that discussion to the specialty practice of FFP. The second part broadly covers the forensic roles in the specialty practice areas of child custody cases, dependency cases, and juvenile delinquency case. Because of the introductory nature of this chapter, it should not be understood as a satisfactory knowledge base for participating in the work of FFP. Accordingly, we reference important sources to consult throughout the chapter and conclude with recommendations for future education in FFP. Forensic Psychology and FFPForensic psychology has been defined in a number of ways and is currently a source of some disagreement in the field. For this chapter we use the definition of forensic psychology advanced by the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP), which is generally consistent with the current Specialty Guidelines in Forensic Psychology (SGFP: Committee on Ethical Issues for Forensic Psychologists, 1991) and most other forensic specialty standards in the field. According to the ABFP (n.d.), "Forensic Psychology is the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system." Forensic psychologists may serve the judicial system and those involved in it by providing specialized services including evaluation, expert testimony, research, teaching, consultation, or specialized intervention services.

Couple and family psychology practice: Scope, diversity, and pathways to specialty certification.

“…CFP practice encompasses subspecialty areas that require additional education and supervised training, namely, family forensic psychology (FFP; Welsh, Greenberg, & Graham-Howard, 2009), systemic substance use treatment (Stanton, 2009b), and systemic sex therapy . FFP integrates the knowledge and skills of two specialties of professional psychology-CFP and forensic psychology-to serve families involved with the justice system.…”

“…FFP integrates the knowledge and skills of two specialties of professional psychology-CFP and forensic psychology-to serve families involved with the justice system. FFP activities include specialized interventions, such as mediation and parent coordination, expert consultation and testimony in child custody disputes, and forensic evaluation in child custody and juvenile delinquency cases (Welsh et al, 2009). Systemic treatment for substance use disorders and systemic sex therapy are special practice applications of CFP discussed in the next section.…”

Family forensic psychology.

“…Many different circumstances may lead to families' involvement with the legal system. Various authors have identified overlapping areas of interest among family psychology and family law, juvenile dependency (child abuse) and juvenile delinquency law, elder law, and other specialties (Grossman & Okun, 2003;Kaslow, 2000;Welsh, Greenberg, & Graham-Howard, 2009). FFPs may provide services including assessment, treatment and other interventions, parent coordination, consultation, mediation, expert testimony, and other services.…”

“…Family forensic psychologists provide expertise to the legal system. (p. 165) Welsh et al (2009) expanded on that definition to note that FFP is a specialized application of family psychology and forensic psychology (including elements of both) that provides expert-level services to families involved with the legal system, their attorneys, and the courts. These services may include intervention or direct services to families, forensic evaluation, consultation, research, expert testimony, parenting coordination, specialized therapy or parenting education, or other services.…”

“…These services may include intervention or direct services to families, forensic evaluation, consultation, research, expert testimony, parenting coordination, specialized therapy or parenting education, or other services. Welsh et al (2009) noted that FFP is defined by three distinctive characteristics: (a) the populations served (court-involved families), (b) the domain of interest (interactions between family psychology and the law), and (c) the application of a family psychology perspective to the work of forensic psychology.…”