Prison Service Journal, 197, September 2011, pp.26-31.
Publisher:
Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
Young people in the secure estate bring with them a range of psychological and social difficulties. This paper focuses on how to best provide therapy for young people aged 15-21 years in youth offender institutions (YOIs). It draws upon the author’s personal reflections of providing therapy to young people in YOIs and some qualitative interviews with several clinical psychologists who work with young prisoners. The paper considers the work of psychologists working within mental health in-reach teams, rather than the work of psychologists who deliver offending behaviour programmes. The paper starts by considering the complex needs of young prisoners. It then argues that to work effectively the therapist must work with the team and systems around these young people. Moreover, the therapist must understand the context of the YOI and thus its impact on the young person and the therapy being offered. The paper concludes by describing the process of psychological formulation and its role in relation to this therapeutic work. It argues that psychological formulation can be an effective means through which to help therapists understand how systematic factors, the prison context, and the effect of that context can impact on therapy.
Young people in the secure estate bring with them a range of psychological and social difficulties. This paper focuses on how to best provide therapy for young people aged 15-21 years in youth offender institutions (YOIs). It draws upon the author’s personal reflections of providing therapy to young people in YOIs and some qualitative interviews with several clinical psychologists who work with young prisoners. The paper considers the work of psychologists working within mental health in-reach teams, rather than the work of psychologists who deliver offending behaviour programmes. The paper starts by considering the complex needs of young prisoners. It then argues that to work effectively the therapist must work with the team and systems around these young people. Moreover, the therapist must understand the context of the YOI and thus its impact on the young person and the therapy being offered. The paper concludes by describing the process of psychological formulation and its role in relation to this therapeutic work. It argues that psychological formulation can be an effective means through which to help therapists understand how systematic factors, the prison context, and the effect of that context can impact on therapy.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, psychotherapy, young offender institutions, young offenders, environmental factors;
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 11(1), January 2011, pp.1-20.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia
A significant portion of juvenile offenders suffer from mental illness. There are several options for mental health services for juvenile offenders, including court-ordered outpatient psychotherapy (COT). When working in this practice area, a variety of ethical concerns arise, including maintaining confidentiality, providing appropriate informed consent, and managing multiple relationships with the client, probation officer and carer. Given the legal classification of juveniles as minors, children and adolescents are considered a vulnerable population, and it is the responsibility of mental health professionals to advocate for their best interest. This article starts by exploring the unique ethical considerations involved when offering COT to juvenile offenders. It then offers guidelines to assist practitioners in exploring and addressing these ethical issues. These guidelines are intended to serve as a starting point for psychologists who wish to become involved in this type of work.
A significant portion of juvenile offenders suffer from mental illness. There are several options for mental health services for juvenile offenders, including court-ordered outpatient psychotherapy (COT). When working in this practice area, a variety of ethical concerns arise, including maintaining confidentiality, providing appropriate informed consent, and managing multiple relationships with the client, probation officer and carer. Given the legal classification of juveniles as minors, children and adolescents are considered a vulnerable population, and it is the responsibility of mental health professionals to advocate for their best interest. This article starts by exploring the unique ethical considerations involved when offering COT to juvenile offenders. It then offers guidelines to assist practitioners in exploring and addressing these ethical issues. These guidelines are intended to serve as a starting point for psychologists who wish to become involved in this type of work.
Subject terms:
informed consent, mental health problems, psychotherapy, young offenders, young people, confidentiality, ethics, good practice;
Addresses the particular problems of engaging young people with mental health problems and conduct disorders in psychotherapy. Although underpinned by psychoanalytic ideas, the book also takes into account developmental, biological and cultural issues that affect young people. Part one considers the theoretical and practical aspects of engaging and maintaining young people in treatment. Part two describes services that have been devised to meet the needs of particular groups such as persistent young offenders and those that are disabled, who are difficult to reach with a traditional clinical approach. The particular needs of young women seeking contraception are also discussed. The third part concludes with an examination of tried and tested methods for routinely evaluating the effectiveness of clinical interventions.
Addresses the particular problems of engaging young people with mental health problems and conduct disorders in psychotherapy. Although underpinned by psychoanalytic ideas, the book also takes into account developmental, biological and cultural issues that affect young people. Part one considers the theoretical and practical aspects of engaging and maintaining young people in treatment. Part two describes services that have been devised to meet the needs of particular groups such as persistent young offenders and those that are disabled, who are difficult to reach with a traditional clinical approach. The particular needs of young women seeking contraception are also discussed. The third part concludes with an examination of tried and tested methods for routinely evaluating the effectiveness of clinical interventions.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mental health problems, performance evaluation, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, severe learning disabilities, social care provision, young offenders, young people, attachment, bereavement, black and minority ethnic people, challenging behaviour, child development, community mental health services, family planning;
An assessment of the Peper Harow community's success in treating disturbed behaviour among young people. The overwhelmingly positive outcome indicated the need for a review of the current social policy towards disturbed and deviant children and young people and shows how society as a whole would benefit from a psychodynamic view of the causes of criminality and mental ill-health among young people.
An assessment of the Peper Harow community's success in treating disturbed behaviour among young people. The overwhelmingly positive outcome indicated the need for a review of the current social policy towards disturbed and deviant children and young people and shows how society as a whole would benefit from a psychodynamic view of the causes of criminality and mental ill-health among young people.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, policy formulation, psychotherapy, treatment, therapeutic communities, therapy and treatment, young offenders, young people, change management, child abuse, child sexual abuse, children, counselling;
Section 1 is on theoretical and practical issues. Section 2 deals with developmental perspectives, including emotional, empathy and prosocial development. Section 3 looks at tools and techniques, including activities, exercises, games, art therapy, relaxation, visualisation, drama therapy and use of interpretation. Section 4 deals with subjects and themes such as bereavement, sexual abuse, encopresis, groupwork with young offenders, and race, identity and culture. Section 5 examines contexts and settings for groupwork such as schools, residential child care, child mental health services, the youth service, and therapeutic communities.
Section 1 is on theoretical and practical issues. Section 2 deals with developmental perspectives, including emotional, empathy and prosocial development. Section 3 looks at tools and techniques, including activities, exercises, games, art therapy, relaxation, visualisation, drama therapy and use of interpretation. Section 4 deals with subjects and themes such as bereavement, sexual abuse, encopresis, groupwork with young offenders, and race, identity and culture. Section 5 examines contexts and settings for groupwork such as schools, residential child care, child mental health services, the youth service, and therapeutic communities.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, psychotherapy, residential child care, young offenders, young people, art therapy, bereavement, black and minority ethnic people, child sexual abuse, children, cultural identity, drama therapy, group therapy, groupwork;
homosexuality, learning disabilities, mental health problems, physical disabilities, probation, poverty, psychotherapy, rape, research methods, residential care, schizophrenia, severe mental health problems, single parent families, suicide, unemployment, violence, women, young offenders, youth work, adoption, alcohol misuse, bereavement, black and minority ethnic people, child abuse, child sexual abuse, custodial institutions, counselling, divorce, drug misuse, foster care, groupwork;