Guidelines for child custody evaluations in divorce proceedings.

Presents guidelines developed for psychologists conducting child custody evaluations (CCEs), specifically within the context of parental divorce. The guidelines build on the American Psychological Association's (APA's) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA, 1992). The goal of the guidelines is to promote proficiency in using psychological expertise in conducting CCEs. The guidelines are (1) orienting guidelines concerning the purpose of a CCE, (2) general guidelines for preparing for a CCE, and (3) procedural guidelines for conducting a CCE. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A guide for establishing a practice in police preemployment postoffer psychological evaluations.

This article provides a guide that focuses on ethics and competence issues for psychologists considering a specialization in conducting police preemployment postoffer psychological evaluations (PEPOPEs). The discussion first addresses the importance of relevant training and practical experiences, involvement in pertinent professional associations, and adherence to rigorous standards and guidelines for conducting this specialized form of assessment. The specific components of a comprehensive assessment are then enumerated and discussed. The article concludes with a consideration of ethical dilemmas and challenges involved in this realm of psychological practice, and a vignette highlights some possible pitfalls for psychologists who are insufficiently prepared for conducting PEPOPEs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guidelines for the evaluation of dementia and age-related cognitive decline.

Assessment of cognitive functioning among older adults requires specialized training and refined psychometric tools. Psychologists conducting such assessments must learn current diagnostic nomenclature and criteria, gain specialized competence in the selection and use of psychological tests, and understand both the limitations of these tests and the context in which they may be used and interpreted. This article presents guidelines developed for psychologists who perform evaluations of dementia and age-related cognitive decline. These guidelines conform to the the American Psychological Association's (APA's) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of APA Accreditation Criterion II.

Historically, psychological education and training programs gave scant, if any, attention to the significance of cultural diversity. The American Psychological Association (APA) attempted to address this lapse by developing relevant standards and guidelines for training psychologists, Criterion II. Cultural and Individual Differences, established by APA's Committee on Accreditation, is an example of this effort to redress the decades of neglect. Programs must demonstrate compliance with this criterion in order to gain accreditation. This article examples a critique of the criterion as it is now presented and concludes that it should retain its aspirational qualities and not strive to adopt a minimalistic posture. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guidelines for child custody evaluations in family law proceedings.

Family law proceedings encompass a broad range of issues, including custody, maintenance, support, valuation, visitation, relocation, and termination of parental rights. The following guidelines address what are commonly termed child custody evaluations, involving disputes over decision making, caretaking, and access in the wake of marital or other relationship dissolution. The goal of these guidelines is to promote proficiency in the conduct of these particular evaluations. This narrowed focus means that evaluations occurring in other contexts (e.g., child protection matters) are not covered by these guidelines. In addition, the guidelines acknowledge a clear distinction between the forensic evaluations described in this document and the advice and support that psychologists provide to families, children, and adults in the normal course of psychotherapy and counseling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of sexual abuse allegations in child custody cases.

Family courts frequently rely on the expertise of mental health professionals to assess allegations of sexual abuse within the context of child custody evaluations. Such evaluations are complex and require knowledge of techniques used in sexual abuse and sexual offender evaluations, as well as knowledge of child custody practices. Preliminary findings from a national survey of 84 psychologists indicated that respondents tend to adhere to the child custody guidelines of the American Psychological Association. However, few practitioners followed formal models, protocols, or guidelines when evaluating alleged victims or alleged perpetrators of sexual abuse in conjunction with child custody disputes. Implications for professional practice are discussed, along with a proposed comprehensive model for assessing sexual abuse allegations in child custody cases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A history of Division 13 initiatives on education and training in consulting psychology.

Arguably, the Division of Consulting Psychology (Division 13) holds seniority status among the growing numbers of American Psychological Association (APA) divisions. Moreover Division 13 inherits a specific challenge from APA founders: to identify and ascertain which psychologists are qualified to perform as consulting psychologists. APA's 1915 Whiple Resolution first called attention to the need to differentiate professionally qualified psychological examiners and experts from consultants without scientific psychological knowledge and experience who were offering services and opinions for public consumption. The process involved identifying salient knowledge and literature, conducting demographic surveys, determining important training experiences and career settings, and cataloging types of clients and services. Interest in working as a consulting psychologist intensified division efforts to complete and disseminate guidelines for doctoral programs in consulting psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Record Keeping Guidelines.

These guidelines are designed to educate psychologists and provide a framework for making decisions regarding professional record keeping. State and federal laws, as well as the American Psychological Association's "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct," generally require maintenance of appropriate records of psychological services. The nature and extent of the record will vary depending upon the purpose, setting, and context of the psychological services. Within these guidelines, more directive language has been used when a particular guideline is based specifically on mandatory provisions of the Ethics Code or law. However, some areas are not addressed in those enforceable standards and regulations. In these areas, more aspirational language has been used. This document aims to elaborate and provide assistance to psychologists as they attempt to establish their own record keeping policies and procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Managing a multiple relationship environment: The ethics of military psychology.

Military psychologists often find themselves in situations having the potential to compromise their professional ethics. Although conflicts in confidentiality are frequently the issue, multiple relationship development is also a significant concern. Case examples involving multiple relationship issues are presented, and the American Psychological Association's (APA's; 1992) guidelines concerning multiple relationship expectancies are considered. Decision-making frameworks are reviewed, and an adaptation of M. C. Gottlieb's (1993) model for multiple relationship resolution is proposed. The authors suggest recommendations for training and supervision, and they encourage continued collaboration between the APA and Department of Defense so that these dilemmas may be more adequately addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Telephone Directory Advertising by Psychologists.

Discusses the official APA policy on telephone directory advertising by psychologists. The relative merits and vices of advertising are currently at issue among members of several professions. While the Supreme Court has decided that lawyers may advertise their services, physicians and psychologists continue to debate the matter. APA's guidelines for telephone directory listings have appeared in both the American Psychologist (APA, 1969) and Ethical Standards of Psychologists (APA, 1977). The official APA policy is to discourage advertising. To determine the extent of compliance with the guidelines, telephone directories for 23 cities were surveyed for entries under the heading Psychologist. Survey results indicate that a substantial number of psychologists are currently at least partly disregarding APA's recommendations for telephone directory displays. This suggests that APA might be advised to publicly review its policy and rationale on advertising. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Older Adults.

Presents the American Psychological Association Guidelines for psychological practice with older adults. The present document is intended to assist psychologists in evaluating their own readiness for working clinically with older adults and in seeking and using appropriate education and training to increase their knowledge, skills, and experience relevant to this area of practice, when desired and appropriate. The specific goals of these guidelines are to provide practitioners with (a) a frame of reference for engaging in clinical work with older adults and (b) basic information and further references in the areas of attitudes, general aspects of aging, clinical issues, assessment, intervention, consultation, and continuing education and training relative to work with older adults. These guidelines build on, and are intended to be entirely consistent with, the APA's (2002a) "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and other APA policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Scientific rewards and conflicts of ethical choices in human subjects research.

The primary responsibility of the American Psychological Association's (APA's) Committee on Standards in Research (CSR) is to advise the APA on issues and standards related to the protection of human participants in psychological research. A related goal is to enhance the use of good ethical practices by APA members. The purpose of this article is to foster the view of research ethics not as an affront to the integrity of sound research, but as opportunities for scientific rewards, including increased understanding of the meaning of data, enhanced recruitment, and the inclusion of more representative samples. Three ethical practices are discussed as examples of this general premise: respect for confidentiality, use of debriefing, and assurance that participants are noncoerced volunteers. The CSR's intent is to promote consideration of these issues, not to promulgate specific guidelines or procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the use and misuse of psychological testing in child custody evaluations.

Examined the use of psychological testing in child custody and visitation disputes. It is argued that although psychological testing can play an important role in custody and visitation evaluations, psychologists routinely misuse test data in this type of forensic case. Possible reasons for the misuse of test data are explored in terms of the assumptions and motives of both legal and mental health professionals. Alternatives to traditional psychological testing in custody and visitation cases are examined. Finally, guidelines for responsible and ethical use of psychological testing in custody evaluations are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child custody cases: A content analysis of evaluations in practice.

Guidelines for custody evaluations recommend multiple ways for assessing the parent-child relationship and outline appropriate means of assessing special issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, and substance use. However, little is known about the implementation of these guidelines in practice. This study examines 60% of custody evaluations in one circuit court over a 2-year period. Custody evaluations were examined for adherence to guidelines and for differences based on evaluator training. This analysis suggests much variety in techniques used and a lack of consistency between guidelines and clinical practice. The findings suggest a need for more standardized approaches to conducting custody evaluations as well as the assessment of domestic violence, child abuse, and substance abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The commerce of professional psychology and the new ethics code.

The 1992 version of the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct brings some changes in requirements and new specificity to the practice of psychology. The impact of the new code on therapeutic contracts, informed consent to psychological services, advertising, financial aspects of psychological practice, and other topics related to the commerce of professional psychology are discussed. The genesis of many new thrusts in the code is reviewed from the perspective of the psychological service provider. Specific recommendations for improved attention to ethical matters in professional practice are made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists' current practices and procedures in child custody evaluations: Five years after American Psychological Association guidelines.

What is the current state of professional practice among child custody evaluators, and how congruent is current practice with the 1994 American Psychological Association (APA) "Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings" (APA Guidelines; APA, 1994)? A national survey of 198 psychologists revealed a high degree of training and experience among respondents and an increased understanding of procedural issues. Evaluators reported using multiple sources of data collection, critical decision-making skills, and knowledge of ethical, legal, and risk management issues. Overall, child custody evaluations appear to have become more sophisticated and comprehensive during the past 15 years, with current practices and procedures adhering to APA Guidelines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

American Psychological Association policy in context: The development and evaluation of guidelines for professional practice.

This article focuses on guidelines for professional practice and related policy development in this area by the American Psychological Association's (APA) Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) over the past decade. BPA's work in this area has been based on its belief that the intention of guidelines should be to facilitate the continued systematic development of the profession and to support a high level of professional practice by psychologists. APA policy related to practice guidelines, as articulated in the "Criteria for Practice Guideline Development and Evaluation" (APA, 2002) is based on the perspective that practice guidelines have a useful purpose for practitioners when they are developed in response to a recognized need in the field and that APA is the most appropriate and reputable organization to develop such recommendations for psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pikes Peak model for training in professional geropsychology.

The aging of the population will increase demand for psychological services for older adults, which challenges the profession of psychology to provide those services. In response to that challenge, professional geropsychology has been developing over the past few decades to meet current and prepare for anticipated future demand. The development of a range of training opportunities is important to enable psychologists to work effectively with older adults. This article describes the Pikes Peak model for training in professional geropsychology. The model is an aspirational, competencies-based approach to training professional geropsychologists that allows for entry points at multiple levels of professional development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Preschool screening: Identifying young children with developmental and educational problems.

Reviews the book, Preschool screening: Identifying young children with developmental and educational problems by R. Lichtenstein and H. Ireton (1984). With the appearance of this book, school psychologists and other professionals now have access to an up-to-date and practical discussion of the issues, research, and instrumentation in the preschool assessment process. This book represents a scholarly collection of six chapters that address matters of philosophy and policy to matters of practice. The book introduces questions about the effectiveness of preschool screening programs as they are characteristically implemented while offering constructive guidelines for improvement to the conscientious professional. Appropriate for use in upper level graduate courses and by professionals working in school and agency settings, this book makes a valuable contribution to the preparation and continuing education of school psychologists and educators who serve preschool-age children and their families. This well-focused and comprehensive volume is recommended highly to university trainers and practitioners in the fields of school and clinical child psychology, as well as early childhood education, special education, and pediatrics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Criteria for practice guideline development and evaluation.

This document is a guide for the development, evaluation, and review of proposed and existing practice guidelines. It is designed to promote quality and consistency in practice guideline development and to describe the criteria by which practice guidelines are evaluated and reviewed. These criteria are designed to assist in the development of guidelines that are broadly applicable to a range of practice areas yet provide sufficient specificity to assist the practitioner in providing high quality psychological services.The intent behind these criteria is to ensure deliberation and care in the development of practice guidelines. This document is intended for practice guideline development committees composed entirely of psychologists and for multidisciplinary efforts in which psychologists are involved. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)