Proven Strategies for Engagement, Effective Change and Enduring Risk Reduction with Offenders

Abstract

Research indicates that at least 70% of offenders reach criteria for personality disorder other than antisocial and, due to the closure of mental health hospitals world-wide; there are an increasing number of offenders with mental illness located in prisons. To fully assess and reduce the risk an offender poses and to try to remediate that risk, the underlying drives to offend must be understood and addressed. To do this an offender must be genuinely engaged. It is suggested that this is in part due to having poor attachment histories and no internal model of a healthy attachment. This paper is written by a consultant clinical and forensic psychologist with a long standing proven record of establishing and running services for and working therapeutically with men with mental health issues with outstanding results in risk reduction alongside and by an expert by experience who has in-depth personal insights into the both the processes needed for effective engagement and change. It describes useable strategies as to how to successfully engage offenders and how to develop a healthy and reparative therapeutic relationship. It describes the importance of a collaborative clinical formulation to aid the development of a coherent narrative and of an emotionally present and engaged therapist. The need to work on both victim and offender issues to bring about real change and risk reduction is elucidated throughout.