Counselling and Psychotherapy

Forensic Therapies provides counselling and psychotherapy to prisoners referred by themselves or professionals working with them. Our practitioners are qualified and often in the process of obtaining higher clinical qualifications – masters and doctorates in counselling, psychotherapy or counselling psychology. Practitioners are members of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and/or the UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy) or the British Psychological Society.

Each week referral meetings are held to assess referrals received. Where possible the referral meeting is integrated into wider healthcare systems within the prisons enabling other options to be considered. In each prison we appoint a clinical co-ordinator who has the responsibility of managing the caseload of the honorary therapist's team. Those prisoners who meet assessment criteria are then assigned to the therapists. Each therapist has a caseload of up to four clients who they see weekly for an average of six to twelve sessions, although there is no limit and the number of sessions is determined by the needs of the client.

Our core minimum level of service in each prison comprises a clinical co-ordinator,ten honorary therapists, a clinical supervisor and our 1:1 ‘through the gate’ provision to enable clients engaged in intervention to continue with this process following release.

The main benefit of providing therapeutic intervention in prison is that it provides a direct opportunity to address offending behaviour. Therefore all our work is offence focused. Our practitioners are trained to ensure that we address issues of public protection and reducing reoffending. The benefits are felt by prisoners, the prison community and wider society. Effective intervention can lead to:

  • Increased motivation to self care
  • Increased confidence
  • Decrease in self harm
  • Improved relationships and atmosphere within the prison
  • Prisoners resourced to deal with issues relating to anger, borderline personality disorder and post traumatic stress disorder
  • Prisoners able to control themselves in tense situations and hence be less destructive
  • Increased awareness of offending behaviour patterns, triggers, consequences and victim empathy
  • Increased perspective leading to awareness of options and choices

All therapeutic interventions are monitored and assessed using demographic recording and CORE.