Corporate wellness services: How therapists can get started
As a private practice clinician, there are a variety of specialties you could pursue or services you could offer. For example, you might decide to specialize in one-on-one therapy for teens or seniors or people struggling with substance use disorder. Or maybe you decide to move away from one-on-one therapy sessions and instead, focus on group sessions or corporate wellness offerings or consulting services.
The point is, there are a lot of options. And if you’re someone that has a deep interest in criminal justice and the legal system, one of those options could include forensic psychology and forensic practice development.
But what does it take to get into forensics? Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about how to transition into legal psychology services as a private practice clinician, including the ins and outs of forensic practice development.
What does working in forensic psychology entail?
Before we talk about forensic practice development, let’s cover what, exactly, it looks like to work in forensic psychology to provide legal psychology services.
What is a forensic psychologist?
A forensic psychologist applies the science of psychology to the legal and criminal justice systems. They can offer legal psychology services in a variety of settings, including criminal and civil, family law, and child welfare cases.
The actual legal psychology services a forensic psychologist offers “varies by area of practice,” says Heather Sheafer, PhD, a forensic psychologist in private practice in the Pacific Northwest.
For example, a forensic psychologist that specializes in criminal cases might work with defense attorneys to assess a client’s competency to stand trial—while a psychologist specializing in family law may be hired by a divorce attorney to evaluate both parents and make a recommendation on who should get primary custody or how parenting time should be split.
That being said, regardless of the area of practice, the actual experience of working on a case is typically similar.
“Most cases involve diagnostic interviews, psychological testing, consultation, record review, [and] report-writing,” says Sheafer.
Depending on the case and their findings, forensic psychologists may also be required to give testimony in court.
“Testimony occurs when evaluations are contested or central to a case,” says Sheafer. “Testimony generally relates to the methods, findings, and opinions within their reports.”
Other opportunities in forensic psychology
There are strict requirements to practice independently as a forensic psychologist, including a doctorate degree in psychology and state licensure (more on that in a bit). But if you don’t meet those requirements as a private practice clinician, there may be opportunities for you to work in forensics in other therapy roles, like:
Victim advocate
Jury consultant
Correctional officer
Government agency officer—for example, Child Protective Services (CPS) or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officer
Forensic investigator
Case manager
You may also be able to work in a support role in a forensic psychologist’s practice, doing things like research or helping to prepare reports to provide legal psychology services.
Keep in mind that there are certain things that only licensed forensic psychologists can do, like testify in court, evaluate defendants, or have your own private practice—so if you’re interested in those services, you’ll need to pursue your doctorate and licensure and pursue forensic practice development.
How to get started with forensic practice development
While everyone’s path is different, if you are looking to make the transition into forensic psychology as a private practice clinician, there are certain steps you’ll need to take, including:
Determine what role you want to pursue
Every role in a forensic psychology practice will have different requirements; for example, forensic psychologists will need a doctorate degree—while other roles, like victim advocacy, may require specialized certifications.
As such, it’s important to get clear on what, exactly, you want to do in the forensic psychology field—as that will dictate exactly what you need to do to get there and how to get started developing a forensic practice.
If you’re unsure of what forensic psychology opportunities you want to pursue, it’s time to do some research. Look into the different roles that exist within forensic psychology and see which pique your interest. Ask yourself questions to help narrow the scope, like:
What population do I want to work with?
What system do I want to work within?
Where will my current/previous clinical experience be the most applicable?
What forensic psychology positions are in high demand in my area?
You can also network with forensic psychology professionals to better understand what it’s like to work in the field.
“I recommend that anyone who wants to go into this work offer to buy coffee for a local forensic psychologist to get a better idea of the requirements and demands in the specific area,” says Sheafer.
What certifications are needed in forensic psychology?
Once you’ve determined what role you want to pursue to provide legal psychology services, the next step is to identify what degrees, licenses, or certifications are needed for successful forensic practice development.
If your end goal is to practice independently as a forensic psychologist, forensic practice development requires you to do the following:
Earn a doctoral degree in psychology: As mentioned, you need a doctorate in psychology (PhD or PsyD). If you’re currently practicing with a master’s degree—for example, as an LPC, LMFT, or LCSW—you’ll need to enroll in a doctoral program. While there are some doctorate degrees in forensic psychology, the most common path is to pursue a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology.
Get licensed as a psychologist: Once you have your doctorate, you’ll need to meet your state’s requirements for psychologist licensure. Requirements vary by state, but generally include a certain number of hours working under the supervision of a licensed psychologist and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Check with your state psychology licensing board to determine exactly what supervision, exams, and other requirements apply where you plan to practice.
Get specialized training and experience in forensic psychology: If you already have a doctorate and are licensed as a psychologist, you don’t necessarily need to start your education over—but you will need to gain both competency and experience in the forensic psychology field before providing legal psychology services. That might include forensic-focused continuing education, supervised experience, and/or formal postdoctoral training.
Consider board certification: According to the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP), board certification establishes standard competency for psychologists providing specialized legal psychology services. The ABFP offers specialty board certification in forensic psychology. Requirements include specialized forensic training and postdoctoral forensic experience, followed by a credential review and examination process. “Board certification through the American Board of Forensic Psychology takes about five years,” says Sheafer.
If you don’t plan on becoming a forensic psychologist, do your research to figure out what education or certifications are needed for the role you want to pursue (or, if not required, may help you better prepare to transition into forensic practice development).
For example, if your goal is to step into a victim advocacy role, you might pursue certification through the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP). Or if your plan is to work with the courts in a drug diversion program, you might become a Certified Criminal Justice Addiction Professional (CCJP).
Map out your paths
Once you know what role you want to pursue in forensic psychology—and what requirements you’ll need to fulfill to land that role—it’s time to create a plan.
Your plan for forensic practice development should be detailed and include:
The major steps to your goal (such as finishing a doctoral degree or pursuing licensure)
The smaller tasks required to complete that step (such as researching doctoral programs, applying for a student loan, or finding a forensic psychologist to supervise your hours)
The estimated timeline for each step
The associated costs for each step before officially offering independent legal psychology services
Getting from where you are now (a private practice clinician) to where you want to be (for example, a forensic psychologist or a jury consultant) can feel overwhelming. But breaking things down into actionable steps can make the journey to forensic practice development feel more manageable.
In addition to mapping out your education, you need a plan for managing your existing private practice during this transition. For example, will you continue seeing therapy clients while pursuing your doctorate, cut your clinical hours while completing supervised forensic training, or sell your practice to another clinician? Each scenario requires different resources and impacts your personal and professional life—making a clear strategy essential for successful forensic practice development.
The path to forensic practice development
As a private practice clinician, you know there can be real value in owning and building your own practice. That opportunity also exists in forensic psychology—but building a forensic practice to provide legal psychology services looks different from building a standard therapy practice, from how you find clients to how you spend your time.
If your ultimate goal is developing a forensic practice, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Have the right foundation in place
Before you start accepting cases independently, you need the knowledge and skills to do the work competently—and to stand behind your conclusions if they're challenged in court.
In other words, you need a strong foundation before you start an independent forensic psychology practice. That includes:
Knowing when to accept cases: Completing the necessary education and getting licensed doesn’t automatically mean it’s time to accept cases in forensics. Before you start taking cases on your own, make sure you have the working knowledge and experience you need to successfully navigate them. “A psychologist is ready when they understand the relevant statutes to their area of practice, understand laws and ethics related to forensic practice, and can produce a defensible, evidence-based report,” says Sheafer.
Knowing how to write reports: To write a strong report, it needs to clearly explain not only what you concluded, but how the evidence supports that conclusion. “A good report contains a nexus or ‘golden thread’ that clearly links information presented to the opinion and relevant statutes,” says Sheafer.
Know how to set fees: Forensic work is generally priced differently from therapy—and hourly rates tend to be higher. “Fees vary by location and area of practice, but anything from $200 to $500 per hour is reasonable,” says Sheafer. When learning how to set fees for forensic practice development, keep in mind that you can also bill for non-clinical work outside of face-to-face meetings, including record review, consultation, phone calls, testing, and report writing.
Build relationships to build your forensic practice
In therapy, potential clients might find you through an online directory, Google search, or recommendation from another clinician. But referrals in forensic psychology typically work differently.
"Most forensic psychologists find clients through relationships with attorneys. Courts or other government agencies, such as child welfare offices or probation, [also hire forensic psychologists]," says Sheafer.
So, if you want to develop a forensic practice that thrives, you need to work on building relationships with potential referral sources in your area.
For example, you might research attorneys who work in your area of specialization and ask to set up a meeting or join local organizations that will put you in front of other relevant professionals. The more you network, the more relationships you’ll build—and the more relevant relationships you have, the more potential referral sources you’ll develop.
Embrace the differences
If you’ve spent years building a therapy practice, it can be tempting to approach forensic work through the same lens. But while your clinical experience can absolutely be an asset, forensic evaluation and therapy are fundamentally different services—and making the transition means understanding where your existing skills apply and where you need to work differently.
For example, you can’t approach forensic evaluations in the same way you would approach one-on-one therapy sessions. “Forensic practice is different from therapy because it involves no therapy,” says Sheafer. “In fact, blurring the line between forensic evaluation and therapy is generally unethical.”
But that doesn’t mean that your therapeutic experience won’t come in handy as you work in forensics. For example, “recommending interventions is an important part of forensic practice…[as] many of the people we evaluate are in therapy or will benefit from therapy,” says Sheafer. As such, “a strong understanding of therapeutic techniques is helpful to make strong recommendations.”
Bottom line? As you transition into forensic psychology, it’s important to understand how your previous experience does and does not apply. Rely on the relevant skills you learned as a private practice clinician (for example, how to establish rapport with a client or evaluate someone for a mental health disorder)—but also be willing to embrace the differences and develop a new way of working with clients.
Sources
American Board of Forensic Psychology. (2025). About.
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. (n.d.). Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
Sheafer, H. (2026). Personal interview.
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