Psychological Testing in a Custody Battle with John Zervopoulos | Episode 118

Psychological Testing in Colorado Custody Cases: What PEs, CFIs, and Lawyers Need to KnowIn this episode of Divorce at Altitude, Colorado family law attorney Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha welcome back John Zervopoulos to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in Colorado custody litigation: psychological testing in Parenting Responsibilities Evaluations (PREs). John is uniquely qualified to explain this issue from both sides, as a licensed psychologist and a licensed attorney who consults with lawyers on mental health evidence, expert reports, and testimony in parenting disputes.Ryan and John explain the key difference between a CFI (Child and Family Investigator) and a PRE in Colorado. CFIs cannot perform psychological testing, while PREs may include testing when conducted by a qualified psychologist. The conversation focuses on how tests like the MMPI, PAI, and MCMI are actually used, why they are not “mental health X-rays,” and how test results must be interpreted alongside interviews, collateral information, and case facts.Guest InformationJohn Zervopoulos is both a licensed psychologist and a licensed attorney. He has experience conducting child custody evaluations and now consults with family law attorneys to help them understand mental health issues, manage psychological evidence, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of expert reports and testimony.Episode OutlinePRE vs CFI in Colorado Parenting Disputes Why PREs can include psychological testing and CFIs generally cannot, and how testing may be outsourced.Why Psychological Testing Is Not an X-Ray Test results do not “prove” diagnoses like bipolar disorder or narcissism and must be interpreted in context.What Psychological Tests Are Common in Custody Evaluations Overview of common tools such as MMPI, PAI, MCMI, and the difference between tests and screening inventories.The Three-Legged Stool Framework How evaluators combine interviews, testing, and collateral sources to form opinions, and what happens when one leg is weak.Six Keys for Understanding Test Results Response style, standardization samples, reliability, validity, sensitivity/specificity, and computer-generated reports.Risks of Overreliance on Computer Interpretations How canned language can appear scientific while still requiring clinical judgment and outside verification.What is Divorce at Altitude? Ryan Kalamaya and Amy Goscha provide tips and recommendations on issues related to divorce, separation, and co-parenting in Colorado. Ryan and Amy are the founding partners of an innovative and ambitious law firm, Kalamaya | Goscha, that pushes the boundaries to discover new frontiers in family law, personal injuries, and criminal defense in Colorado. To subscribe to Divorce at Altitude, click here and select your favorite podcast player. To subscribe to Kalamaya | Goscha's YouTube channel where many of the episodes will be posted as videos, click here.  If you have additional questions or would like to speak to one of our attorneys, give us a call at 970-429-5784 or email us at [email protected].************************************************************************DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS ON THIS PODCAST IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE. CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE OR AREA TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.