Forensic Evaluators: Their History and Their Role in the Industry
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Psychological forensic evaluations have historically been dominated by psychiatrists and psychologists, with credentialing bodies specifically designed to serve these professionals by providing the necessary training and certification. As a result, over 200,000 licensed mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and substance abuse professionals in the United States have largely been excluded from this fascinating and potentially lucrative area of the mental health field (HHS, 2002; SAMHSA). According to SAMHSA (2020), there are more than 88,500 licensed psychologists and approximately 300 certified forensic psychologists in the United States (ABFP, 2020). SAMHSA’s data (2020) also indicates that there are about 96,000 mental health counselors, 26,258 clinically trained psychiatrists, 97,290 social workers, and 47,111 marriage and family therapists practicing nationwide.
About Me
Norman E. Hoffman, PhD, EdD, LMHC, LMFT, was accepted to the clinical internship at Menninger Memorial Hospital after working in the psychiatric department at the Devereux Foundation. He studied at the Thomas A. Edison College, where he was awarded a doctor of philosophy in psychotherapy. In 1994 he completed a doctoral degree in human services counseling from the University of Sarasota, and in 1995 he obtained a doctor of pastoral psychology from Florida Religious University.
Dr. Valerie Hoffman is a psychotherapist who resides in Ormond Beach. Florida. She currently has a thriving private practice. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Hoffman also is the Vice President of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators and serves on the Oral Examination committee to credential eligible candidates for certification as forensic mental health evaluators. She has written several programs for professionals in her field to receive continuing education credits. She has recently published a journal article based on forensic psychology.
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