Transforming Relationships in Forensic Psychological Practice

Transforming Relationships in Forensic Psychological Practice is, first and foremost a clinicians’ guide: it has been written with the aim of supporting people to develop, maintain and repair relationships within their work as forensic practitioners.

Research repeatedly finds that client perception of the therapeutic relationship is a significant factor in treatment success; however, data suggests that forensic psychologists have a poor history of trust and engagement with people in prisons. Tackling this issue head-on, this book explores key factors in working relationships across a broad range of forensic client groups, settings and tasks and reflects on specific points of tension in forensic therapeutic relationships. Drawing on the expertise of a diverse range of authors, it unpicks the challenges in building such relationships and explores factors such as neurodiversity, extremism, professional boundaries and working effectively with women and children. It outlines how productive working relationships can be developed and maintained, and highlights the essential constituent parts of that process, using both a theoretical and experiential lens. Finally, the book identifies and discusses examples of good practice from both practitioner and, in places, service participant perspectives.

Guiding practitioners to find respectful and connected solutions, whilst maintaining safety and appropriate professional and personal boundaries, Transforming Relationships in Forensic Psychological Practice is an essential resource for all professionals working in forensic settings, both qualified and in training.

Author Biography

Jo Shingler is a Chartered Psychologist and Registered Forensic Psychologist, currently working within STRIVE (Core OPD & IIRMS service), a co-commissioned service between HMPPS and the NHS as part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway.

Nicola Bowes is an HCPC registered forensic psychologist and Professor of Practitioner Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. She is Past Chair of the British Psychological Society Division of Forensic Psychology. Nic leads the largest University provider of forensic psychology training in the UK.

Tassie Ghilani is National Lived Experience Lead for HMPPS and a passionate advocate for system reform. Drawing on professional and lived experience, she works to improve outcomes for people in prison and probation, influencing peer support, culture change, and the meaningful inclusion of lived experience in justice policy and delivery.