A forensic mental health evaluation is a form of evaluation performed by a licensed and/or certified mental health professional to provide relevant clinical and scientific data to an individual, agency, organization, legal decision maker, attorney or the litigants involved in civil or criminal proceedings. Forensic mental health evaluations consist of the evaluator conducting clinical diagnostic interviews, assessing, scoring, and interpreting mental health, substance abuse, and/or behavioral tests, providing diagnoses and treatment recommendations, and written summaries of results.

Forensic evaluators are mental health counselors who have additional training and skill to assess individuals in the criminal justice system. Often, they can be called on to testify in court to give evidence as an "expert witness" to discuss the status of the mental and/or behavioral health of an individual, provide recommendations for treatment, or provide recommendations regarding sentencing or parole as required.

Regarding her experience with forensic evaluations, Mrs. McKinney has earned multiple certifications through the National Board of Forensic Evaluators as a Certified Child Custody Evaluator (CCCE), Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE), and a Forensic Psychometrist. The training is a rigorous process involving training, mentoring, and a written and oral examination protocol.

The NBFE certification is the nation's only renowned and prestigious training and certification program recognized and endorsed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), Florida Mental Health Counselors Association (FMHCA), Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA), Utah Mental Health Counselors Association (UMHCA) the Licensed Professional Counselors Association-Georgia, the Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association (SMHCA, LIfeWorksGroup, Darsy, Black & Associates, Emerald Coast Mental Health Counselors Association) and Vecchi Group International (VGI).

​Types of Evaluations offered:

• Child / Adolescent custody, visitation, and timesharing evaluations

• Parental Reunification

• Psychological Evaluation 

• Psychological Evaluation with Parental Capacity

• Competency to Stand Trial / Criminal Responsibility

• Substance Abuse Evaluations 

​