During clinical evaluation, the adult under assessment is the client, but for a child’s assessment, the parent or guardian acts as the client. In a forensic evaluation, the retaining party, which is often an agency, court, or attorney, acts as the client. Additionally, for clinical evaluation, the client receives their test results, but for a forensic assessment, the report, recommendation, and opinions are directed to the referral source.

The interview may involve standardized and other mental health tests. The type of test is specific to the case and is often determined from the interview content. Tests of intelligence and cognition, personality, malingering, anger, abuse potential, trauma history, and recidivism are common. Some tests are adapted or modified to guide the interview, but most tests are conducted under standardized conditions by qualified persons. Many tests cannot be administered with others present.

Understanding the difference between forensic and clinical mental health evaluations requires you first to know what each involves. Both clinical and forensic providers perform evaluative practices with their clients, but their ethical obligations are different. While clinical evaluation consists of applying mental health research techniques and principles in the treatment and analysis of human behavior, forensic evaluation applies this knowledge to assist the legal system in making decisions. Below are some differences between the two evaluations.

Clients who undergo clinical evaluations follow their doctor’s or therapist's advice mainly because they deem the exercise helpful to their health or that of their child. Conversely, individuals who undertake forensic evaluations receive an order from

a government agency or attorney for legal purposes. In some cases, the request comes from employers who need test results to act as a pre-employment evaluation.

The process entails assessment of the parent’s mental health and child-rearing practices and their willingness to foster their child's relationship with the other parent. Considerable time must be spent interviewing children who may be slow to warm up to a stranger. Custody or visitation schedules are always based on the best interests of the child.