Forensic Psychology

1. Ethical and Legal Considerations
   1. Confidentiality and Privacy Issues
      1. Understanding confidentiality in forensic settings
         1. Differences between forensic and therapeutic confidentiality
         2. Legal obligations versus ethical expectations
      2. Managing confidentiality with various stakeholders
         1. Dealing with legal representatives and court orders
         2. Communication with clients and families
      3. Data protection and privacy
         1. Secure storage of sensitive information
         2. Electronic communications and privacy risks
   2. Dual Role Conflicts
      1. Definition and identification of dual relationships
         1. Potential conflicts of interest in forensic psychology
         2. Distinguishing between therapeutic roles and forensic evaluation roles
      2. Managing dual roles
         1. Strategies to prevent blurring of boundaries
         2. Importance of transparency with clients and courts
      3. Ethical implications of overlapping roles
         1. Cases where dual roles are unavoidable
         2. Ethical guidance for navigating conflicts
   3. Adhering to Professional Guidelines and Standards
      1. Review of relevant ethical codes
         1. American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines
         2. Specialty guidelines for forensic psychologists
      2. Legal standards affecting practice
         1. State-specific laws and regulations
         2. Federal requirements and constraints
      3. Ensuring competence and ongoing learning
         1. Continued professional development in ethical guidelines
         2. Peer consultation for difficult cases
   4. Navigating Informed Consent
      1. Definition and importance of informed consent
         1. Differences between informed consent in therapy versus forensic settings
         2. Components of a comprehensive informed consent process
      2. Implementing informed consent in evaluations
         1. Explanation of roles, limits of confidentiality, and evaluation processes
         2. Addressing potential risks and benefits of assessments
      3. Legal challenges in obtaining informed consent
         1. Instances where consent might not be obtainable
         2. Alternative approaches when clients are unable to provide consent