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Designed by Chris Willoughby (mail@christopherwilloughby.net)
© Forensic Therapists Association, 2009
Mission Statement
Members of the Association believe that those who engage in criminal and offending behaviour not only impact on society by their actions, but behave as they do in part because they have been impacted upon.
Our clients’ rights to ethical and humane treatment are in no way diminished because they have diminished the rights of others.
We subscribe to the view that therapeutic treatment must go beyond punishment and restraint, and be aimed at healing, and at reducing offending behaviour, giving due regard both to the client’s worth and the need for public protection.
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How the Forensic Therapists Association came into Being
The idea for the Association arose from a group of people attending Wealden College for the Advanced Diploma in Forensic Counselling and Psychotherapy. As the course progressed many students declared a feeling of isolation in their profession. They often had few if any colleagues working in exactly the same area or using the same approach. Although they received some support through supervision there was a feeling of somehow being cut off, standing alone. Most belonged to at least one professional organization, some to many. The BACP [British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy] was the organization most people belonged to but this encompasses the more general areas of counselling and psychotherapy with a few specialist spin-off groups - nothing in the forensic field. Some people belonged to NOTA [National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers] which covers a specialist area within the forensic field. Something seemed to be missing.
Students felt that a perceived lack of support could affect confidence and lead to frustration and doubt concerning how much growth and development were possible in the forensic environment. Also that what was on offer to our clients was either not enough or was not as effective as it could be. When we compared notes it was obvious there could be a rather piecemeal approach – for example whereas most prisons seemed to have some form of drug and alcohol awareness programme, only some offered one-to-one counselling. When we considered Treatment Programmes it was interesting to compare what we would put in place in an idealized situation and what we could offer in reality. Financial considerations were obviously a big deciding factor but perhaps more pressure from experienced therapists and support from relevant research programmes might change things for the better? Idealistic perhaps, but worth fighting for.
During the course we came to the realisation that as a group we were experiencing both practical and inspirational support and now we did not want to let it go. Out of this came the idea of setting up our own Association. What we had to do next was decide what it was we actually wanted, what was it possible and how we were going to go about it.
Following an intense period of brainstorming and discussion our mission statement eventually emerged:
The idea for the Association arose from a group of people attending Wealden College for the Advanced Diploma in Forensic Counselling and Psychotherapy. As the course progressed many students declared a feeling of isolation in their profession. They often had few if any colleagues working in exactly the same area or using the same approach. Although they received some support through supervision there was a feeling of somehow being cut off, standing alone. Most belonged to at least one professional organization, some to many. The BACP [British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy] was the organization most people belonged to but this encompasses the more general areas of counselling and psychotherapy with a few specialist spin-
Students felt that a perceived lack of support could affect confidence and lead to frustration and doubt concerning how much growth and development were possible in the forensic environment. Also that what was on offer to our clients was either not enough or was not as effective as it could be. When we compared notes it was obvious there could be a rather piecemeal approach – for example whereas most prisons seemed to have some form of drug and alcohol awareness programme, only some offered one-
During the course we came to the realisation that as a group we were experiencing both practical and inspirational support and now we did not want to let it go. Out of this came the idea of setting up our own Association. What we had to do next was decide what it was we actually wanted, what was it possible and how we were going to go about it.
Following an intense period of brainstorming and discussion our mission statement eventually emerged:
“Members of the association believe that those who engage in criminal and offending behaviour not only impact on society by their actions, but behave as they do in part because they have been impacted upon.
Our clients rights to ethical and humane treatment are in no way diminished because they have diminished the rights of others.
We subscribe to the view that therapeutic treatment must go beyond punishment and restraint, and be aimed at healing, and at reducing offending behaviour giving due regard both to the client’s worth and the need for public protection.”
This became the starting point from which all else followed. The rest is history as they say.
This became the starting point from which all else followed. The rest is history as they say.
Glenys Boulton, Secretary