Forensic Psychology Interventions In London and Throughout the UK

Conducting Psychological Applications and Interventions

One-to-One and Group Interventions

Our forensic psychology service provides therapeutic support for individuals and groups facing various problems. This includes individuals in the community and people subject to various court orders. We design and deliver offender treatment programmes for sex offenders, individuals whose offending is linked to substance abuse, and job search and business creation programmes for offenders. We work with people in forensic hospitals who are detained under the Mental Health Act. We work with voluntary organisations who work with offenders and their families. We work with individuals rebuilding their lives following contact with the criminal justice system. We use therapies and interventions for individuals and groups. This includes delivery of therapy for offenders and people detained under the Mental Health Act, focussing on things like self-esteem, trauma, offending behaviours and managing distressing emotions. We use therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, transactional analysis (TA), coaching, and mentoring.

Our forensic psychology intervention strategies usually include the following phases:

Assessment – Reviewing case files, conducting interviews, and administering psychometric assessments such as the Inventory of Offender Strengths and Needs (IRONS) to determine an individual offender’s strengths and needs. This helps us to understand which intervention(s) might help a person and to develop a formulation. We regularly carry out assessments of symptom exaggeration and malingering using leading measures such as the Test of Memory Malingering, the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomology, the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms and the Paulhus Deception Scale.

We are frequently called on to carry out risk assessments, and we have advised the Parole Board and courts on sentencing and reoffending. In one case, we were able to diagnose the offender with autism and emotionally unstable personality disorder and use this information to advise on treatment, the prospects of rehabilitation and early release. We frequently conduct risk assessments using the Risk Matrix 2000, the Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol, the International Personality Disorder Examination, and the Historical and Clinical Risk Management (HCR-20).

We also carry out diagnostic assessments and sentencing assessments for offenders with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and complex mental health problems. In many cases, we deal with very serious offenders who are charged with murder, terrorism and conspiracy. We have worked with individuals who have personality disorders, PTSD, brain injury, and families subject to care proceedings.

Formulation – Our forensic psychology service makes sense of what is happening for the individual by using formulations to models, which help us understand what is causing the individual to behave in a particular way and what is impacting their well-being. We draw together information from our interviews, psychometric testing, published research, and the individual’s case file to identify what factors might be causing trauma for the individual and how they might impact their offending or recovery as a victim of crime.

Intervention – In our forensic psychology service, we deliver individual and group therapies and interventions rooted in a clear analysis of the factors triggering the individual's difficulties. We build trust and strong and positive communication with clients about their needs, aspirations, and the issues causing them distress.

Evaluation – Following the forensic intervention or interventions we evaluate whether it resulted in meaningful behavioural change for the individual. Once an intervention is complete, evaluating its impact and considering how it changes the person’s formulation is very important.

Forensic Psychological Assessments

Psychologists, forensic psychologists, psychiatrists and general medical practitioners with extensive legal training report on intervention and rehabilitation. We have extensive knowledge of psychological factors in criminal behaviour and produce robust medico-legal reports in short time frames.

Our multicultural, multidisciplinary team of expert witnesses provide reports on a number of areas including:

• Risk assessments
• Forensic assessments
• Pre-sentencing reports
• Recommendations for parole
• Suitability for progression or release
• Neuropsychological assessment
• Fraud
• Criminal responsibility
• Suggestibility
• Fitness to stand trial
• Fitness to plead
• Ability to consent

We accept funding form the Legal Aid Agency and clients are normally seen by a forensic psychologist within one week of confirmation of funding. Reports are normally released within 14 days of assessment.