Forensic Psychological Assessments

Gain Clarity and Confidence with Forensic Psychological Assessments

When legal, workplace, or family law questions involve mental health, you need clear, independent psychological input—not speculation or advocacy. At CPC Clinics, registered psychologists provide structured forensic and medico-legal assessments that answer specific referral questions, follow Canadian forensic and family law standards, and produce court-ready reports. Our role is to offer neutral, evidence-based opinions you can rely on in high-stakes decisions.

CPC Clinics conducts forensic psychological assessments using interviews, testing, and detailed record review to answer clear referral questions. We deliver transparent, evidence-based opinions to support informed decision-making.

Referral clarification and conflict check

Referral clarification and conflict check:
Every file begins with a careful review of referral information, potential conflicts of interest, and applicable court…

Referral clarification and conflict check:
Every file begins with a careful review of referral information, potential conflicts of interest, and applicable court orders. We clarify the exact questions you need answered—such as risk, fitness, responsibility, parenting capacity, or psychological injury—before accepting the retainer. This upfront work helps ensure role clarity, neutrality, and alignment with legal expectations from the outset.

Guideline-aligned methodology

Guideline-aligned methodology:
Our assessments follow Canadian forensic psychology standards and relevant Alberta family law practice…
Guideline-aligned methodology:
Our assessments follow Canadian forensic psychology standards and relevant Alberta family law practice notes (e.g., PN7 and PN8) where applicable. We use structured professional judgment approaches in risk work and child-centered frameworks in parenting and child welfare cases. The methods, limits, and sources of information are clearly documented, so the court can see how opinions were reached.

Multi-method data collection

Multi-method data collection:
Depending on the referral, we integrate record review, clinical and forensic interviews, psychological testing…
Multi-method data collection:
Depending on the referral, we integrate record review, clinical and forensic interviews, psychological testing, validated risk tools, and collateral information (with appropriate authorization). This multi-method approach reduces reliance on any single source and increases the reliability and defensibility of our opinions in criminal, civil, occupational, and family law matters.

Risk, fitness, and capacity opinions

Risk, fitness, and capacity opinions:
For risk and violence assessments, we use structured professional judgment instruments such as the HCR…
Risk, fitness, and capacity opinions:
For risk and violence assessments, we use structured professional judgment instruments such as the HCR-20V3 alongside case-specific information. In fitness, competency, and decision-making capacity evaluations, we examine cognitive, emotional, and contextual factors relevant to the legal standard in question. Opinions focus on functional abilities, foreseeable risks, and practical management considerations.

Family law and parenting evaluations

Family law and parenting evaluations (PN7/PN8):
In PN7/PN8 and related parenting assessments, the emphasis is on the psychological needs of children…
Family law and parenting evaluations (PN7/PN8):
In PN7/PN8 and related parenting assessments, the emphasis is on the psychological needs of children, parenting strengths and limitations, and family dynamics that affect safety and adjustment. We consider attachment, conflict, co-parenting, and risk factors within the framework of Alberta family law practice notes and best-interest principles, offering child-centered recommendations to assist the court.

Court-ready reporting and consultation

Court-ready reporting and consultation:
Each report directly addresses the referral questions, clearly outlines methods, summarizes findings, and explains…
Court-ready reporting and consultation:
Each report directly addresses the referral questions, clearly outlines methods, summarizes findings, and explains how conclusions were reached. Reports are written in plain language while maintaining appropriate technical detail. Where requested, we provide expert testimony and case consultation to help the court or retaining party understand the implications and limits of the psychological evidence

Why Our Forensic Assessment Provides Clarity You Can Rely On​

Meet Our Calgary Forensic Assessment Specialist

Zarrin Tasneem

Clinical Director
MACP – Registered Provisional Psychologist

Flexible & Accessible Counselling Options :

ADHD Assessments involve a series of evidence-based tests and interviews that help our psychologists understand attention patterns, behaviour, and everyday functioning. They provide clarity on whether ADHD is present and how it affects school, work, and daily life. Final costs depend on the number of hours required and the complexity of the case. Below is a guideline for what ADHD assessments typically cost.

Forensic Psychological Assessments
$1680-$1920

Insurance billing available under specific conditions

In-person sessions available in Calgary

Let’s find a time and format that works best for you.

1. Referral & record review

What It Is :

 We begin by clarifying the referral questions, reviewing court orders, and examining available documentation such as disclosure, police reports, prior assessments, medical records, and workplace or insurer files. This step helps define the scope of the opinion and identify what additional information is needed. Our approach is consistent with Canadian clinical-forensic practice recommendations.

Key Benefits:

  • Ensures the assessment directly addresses the legal or organizational questions at hand.

  • Identifies gaps or inconsistencies early, guiding efficient information gathering.

2. Forensic clinical interviews

What It Is :

We conduct structured or semi-structured interviews that explore mental health history, current symptoms, life context, and relevant risk or protective factors. In family law cases, this may include interviews with parents, children, and other caregivers; in criminal or civil matters, the focus may be on index events, functioning, and responsivity to intervention. Interviews are conducted with a forensic, not therapeutic, stance.

Key Benefits:

  • Provides rich contextual information that test scores alone cannot capture.

  • Allows for careful observation of presentation, consistency, and credibility indicators.

3. Psychological testing & specialized tools

What It Is :

Where indicated, we use standardized measures of cognitive functioning, adaptive skills, personality, psychopathology, malingering, and symptom validity, alongside risk instruments such as the HCR-20V3 or other validated tools. Test selection is guided by the referral question, empirical support, and ethical guidelines for forensic assessment and interpretation.

Key Benefits:

  • Adds objective data to support or qualify interview and record-based impressions.

  • Improves fairness and transparency by using well-established, peer-reviewed instruments.

4. Risk, capacity, and parenting analysis

What It Is :

Using structured professional judgment frameworks, we synthesize historical, clinical, and contextual information to form opinions about violence risk, recidivism, decision-making capacity, or parenting strengths and challenges. In PN7/PN8 cases, we align with Alberta family law standards, emphasizing the child’s needs, safety, and developmental wellbeing.

Key Benefits:

  • Provides systematic, guideline-aligned opinions rather than informal impressions.

  • Offers practical risk management and parenting recommendations linked to identified factors.

5. Integrated formulation & court-ready report

What It Is :

Finally, we integrate all sources of information into a coherent formulation that addresses the referral questions directly and acknowledges limits where appropriate. Reports outline methods, findings, and reasoning in clear language while remaining suitable for court, tribunals, or organizational decision-makers. This reflects current Canadian expectations for forensic psychological practice.

Key Benefits:

  • Gives decision-makers a transparent line of reasoning from data to opinion.

  • Helps courts, counsel, and organizations apply psychological findings appropriately within their own legal frameworks.