Custody & Adoption
Evaluation Essentials
The Custody & Adoption Evaluation Essentials courses are offered by Dr. Axelson, a Doctor of Social Work with 20 years of experience performing evaluations for families and courts all over Texas. Each course, one dedicated towards child custody evaluations and the other dedicated towards adoption evaluations, offers continuing education hours. Check out the details below to see how these courses can meet your needs!
Child Custody Evaluation Essentials
This course features 20 hours of instruction broken down into eight 2.5-hour classes. This training has 20 approved hours of continuing education for all Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, including 4 hours of ethics. Currently enrolling for the 2026 Fall Course, with classes every Tuesday beginning August 18, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. These courses are live via Zoom, and Dr. Axelson welcomes participation and questions! With handouts, examples, and practical explanations, this training is invaluable to your future practice.
August 18th: What You Need to Know Before Getting Started
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The purpose of a CCE
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Required Training and Education
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Texas Statutes and Standards of Practice
August 25th: Get Organized
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Paperwork
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Court Orders
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Boundaries and Ethics
September 1st: Interviews & Observations
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Adult and Child Interviews
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Home Visits
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Family Observations
September 8th: Data, Data, and More Data
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What Records to Get
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How To Get Them
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What Data Should I Review?
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Psychological Evaluations
September 15th: Delving Into and Dissecting the Data
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Report Writing
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Documentation
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Research
September 22nd: Constructing your Conclusion
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Multiple Hypotheses
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Recommendations
September 29th: Special Circumstances
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Non-Compliant Clients
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Interim Recommendations
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CCE Updates
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One-sided Evaluations
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Brief Focused Assessments
October 6th: Subpoenas and Testimony
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Closing Your File
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Subpoenas for Records and Testimony
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Depositions
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Testimony
The discounted course cost, if paid in full, is $800. A pay-as-you-go option is $125 per class, due 48 hours prior to the class you plan to attend. BONUS: You don't have to pay for the whole course if you only want to take a class or two! If you bundle this course with Adoption Evaluation Essentials, the total is $900! Payment is accepted via check, Cash App, or Zelle. Once you submit your registration, additional information about payment will be emailed to you.
Adoption Evaluation Essentials
This course features 5 hours of instruction, split into two 2.5-hour classes. This training has 5 approved continuing education hours for all Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, including 2 hours of ethics. Currently enrolling for the 2026 Fall course, with a class on October 20, 2026, and October 27, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. These courses are live via Zoom, and Dr. Axelson welcomes participation and questions! With handouts, examples, and practical explanations, this training is invaluable to your future practice.
October 20th: How to Do Adoption Evaluations
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Required Training and Education
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Texas Statutes and Administrative Code
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Process & Paperwork
October 27th: What to Do and How to Write It
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Interviews
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Data
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Report Writing
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Conclusions and Assessments
The discounted course cost, if paid in full, is $200. A pay-as-you-go option is $125 per class, due 48 hours prior to the class you plan to attend. If you choose to bundle this course with Child Custody Evaluation Essentials, the total is $900! Payment is accepted via check, Cash App, or Zelle. Once you submit your registration, additional payment information will be emailed to you.
Family Violence Fundamentals to Forensic Application Training
July 7th and July 21st
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Virtual
This 2-part advanced training, presented by Dr. Aaron Robb and Dr. Tammi Axelson for mental health professionals, equips child custody evaluators, parenting facilitators, and court-involved therapists to identify and assess domestic violence dynamics and provides practical advice on interventions that maintain safety, neutrality, and ethical boundaries.
These trainings will satisfy 5 of the 8 hours of Domestic Violence education required for Child Custody Evaluators and Parenting Facilitators. Attendees will receive a certificate for 2.5 continuing education hours for each training.
Part 1: Family Violence Fundamentals to Forensic Application on July 7th, from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm
An advanced forensic-focused training that equips custody evaluators to identify, assess, and appropriately
integrate domestic violence dynamics into best-interest determinations and recommendations.
Part 2: Family Violence Fundamentals to Forensic Application on July 21st, from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm
An advanced, practice-oriented training focused on identifying, assessing, and responding to domestic violence dynamics
within parenting facilitation and therapeutic roles, emphasizing the use of appropriate and effective interventions that
promote safety in court-involved cases.