Dr. Marissa "MJ" Babcock, a Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE), co-authored an advanced textbook on ethics for mental health professionals.

"Advanced Ethics for Mental Health Professionals" prepares mental health counseling and social work students for their future careers by providing them with in-depth coverage of legal and ethical issues they are likely to encounter in the field. The text explores the intricacies of the increasingly varied contexts in which counselors find themselves, such as community work, crisis counseling, court cases, telehealth, and more, offering content aligned with contemporary mental health demands. The book examines historical perspectives, essential principles, the development of professional identity, and the application of ethical decision-making models in intricate clinical scenarios. It addresses critical themes such as decision-making capacity, integrated care, specific population needs, varying treatment settings, and the ethical implications of supervision and education in counseling, equipping future counselors to confidently navigate professional dilemmas and uphold ethical and legal standards.

Tailored to reflect the changing landscape and escalation of complex client engagements and atypical care settings, Advanced Ethics for Mental Health Professionals is a vital tool for graduate-level law and ethics courses, as well as practicum, internships, counselor identity formation, and ongoing professional development. The authors have also included a sample syllabus provided in 16-week and 8-week formats, which is accessible through Cognella when ordering the instructor's version.

To order an examination copy or instructor version of the text, click here.

To purchase the text on Amazon, click here.

Dr. Aaron Norton, the Executive Director of NBFE, contributed to Dr. Derek Collin's groundbreaking manual, "How to Write a Substance Use Evaluation: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners."  This book is a much-needed, practical, plain-language roadmap for clinicians who need to write evaluations that are both clinically sound and court-defensible. Designed for beginners and developing professionals, this guide walks you step‑by‑step through every stage of the process—from the first interview to final recommendations.

Click here to order it!

In Considerations for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Counseling Profession, NBFE Executive Director Dr. Aaron Norton examines the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in counseling practice, education, supervision, and research. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature and emerging ethical standards from national counseling organizations, Dr. Norton outlines both the promise and the risks of AI and GenAI, offering practical, ethically grounded recommendations to guide responsible use. This article provides mental health professionals with a timely, balanced framework for understanding how AI can enhance—without replacing—professional judgment, client welfare, and clinical integrity.

Read the University of South Florida's announcement about the article.

Order a copy of the full article from Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education.

Image generated in OpenAI's Image Generator, 12/6/25

Dr. Aaron Norton, executive director of NBFE, and Dr. Tony Tan, an educational psychologist at Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of South Florida, conducted a study on how clinical mental health counselors (CMHCs) in the U.S. handled emotional support animals (ESA) letter requests and whether the assessments used by CMHCs for clinical decision making were related to whether they would decline or agree to write the ESA letter.  Overall, they found that (1) whether CMHCs assessed for disability, inquired as to how ESAs alleviated symptoms, and discussed alternatives to ESAs predicted the likelihood that a CMHC would approve or deny a client request for an ESA letter; and (2) most CMHCs lacked formal training in ESA assessment, and many relied on personal discretion rather than established guidelines in making clinical decisions.  This study draws attention to the importance of training clinicians on appropriate methods for assessing ESA letter requests.  The study was published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.  

In Through the Lens of Trauma: My Role in a Vehicular Homicide Defense, NBFE Board Member Richard J. Stride, PsyD, LPC, LMHC offers a compelling, trauma-informed forensic perspective on a high-stakes vehicular homicide case involving an adolescent defendant.

Drawing on behavioral observation, developmental psychology, and multidisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Stride illustrates how trauma, dissociation, and emotional presentation can shape investigative conclusions and courtroom outcomes. This article underscores the critical role forensic mental health professionals play in helping legal systems move beyond surface-level assumptions toward nuanced, ethically grounded understanding. NBFE members are encouraged to read this article in advance of upcoming NBFE webinars exploring trauma-informed forensic evaluation, expert testimony, and the interpretation of behavior under extreme stress.  Click here to read it!

Dr. Aaron Norton, executive director of NBFE, chimes in on the use of artificial intelligence in counseling and psychotherapy as the cover story of the American Mental Health Counselors Association's "The Advocate Magazine."  Read the article here.

Equipping Counselors to Become Forensic Mental Health Evaluators.pdf

Parents Magazine.pdf