Introduction to the psychotherapies for mentally disordered offenders

Abstract

(from the chapter) This chapter introduces psychotherapy as applied in the forensic world and signposts areas that are discussed further in this section. The first part of the chapter outlines the theoretical basis and key concepts involved in the main psychotherapy modalities. The section on psychodynamic psychotherapy is necessarily longer as it includes descriptions of terms which, although derived from psychoanalysis, have now spread into forensic clinical work. The second part describes how delivering and researching psychotherapy has been influenced by either the nature of the mental disorder found in forensic populations or the forensic setting. There are other modes of psychotherapy that this chapter cannot do justice to, such as the arts therapies (art, drama, and music), supportive psychotherapy and therapies that integrate theoretical approaches, such as cognitive analytic therapy; all of these contribute to the treatment of MDOs. For a description of psychotherapeutic work delivered in specialist units or institutions that function as Therapeutic Communities (TCs) please see Chapter 14. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)