Forensic Psychology

[Optimus Pirate]

Ok.. so basically I am really stuck with a bit of coursework I have for my forensic psych course, and could really use some brain storming ideas and stuff...

I have been given a topic and have to answer questions on it, then type it up and submit it to an online discussion group for all my classmates to read - and I'm getting rather panicked about it not being good enough. So any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Topic - Personal Safety

1. What does this term refer to?

2. How might problems arise in a forensic psychology workplace in relation to this?

3. How could such problems be avoided or dealt with?

[sherlock holmes]

I havent done any forensic psychology (yet) but its what I'm going to be studying soon.

So these are kinda not borne out of any specific study.

1. Personal safety would probably relate to the safety of the psychologist when they are undertaking an assessment or a therapy session with a patient/offender. You'd have to take into account risk and so on, would the patient be likely to become violent during the course of the assessment? Would any specific topic trigger this response?

2. Problems could arise in as much that patients would therefore not get the specialist help they need if they become violent towards the psychologist, or in future any sessions would need to be attended by those trained in control and restraint which would affect confientiality and so on. On a more personal level, the psychologist may be put under stress or fear being repeatedly exposed to these situations which may lead to burn out.

3. Perhaps anger management for those patients in need, a contract they are required to sign to say that if they become aggressive or threatening towards the psychologist their therapy will be stopped until they can show they have that under control.

That's probably a load of bollocks, but meh.

[Too Shy]

I think what control freak said makes sense! And also maybe problems like:

Clinician expectations? So that possibly if the clinician/psychologist is expecting the client to be violent or is watching out for any threat to their personal safety, then I suppose that could potentially affect the therapeutic relationship between therapist-client, put them on edge or possibly even end up with a self-fulfilling prophecy?

And maybe avoiding problems by things like Conflict Management training? So there might be things to consider like lone working for psychologists and if that's safe with some clients/environments. Learning to read the non-verbal communication/body language etc of the client, so that it can be prevented rather than letting it escalate to be a risk to personal safety, and the use of defusion etc. And just basic things too like understanding the triggers and factors behind behaviour/crimes etc maybe could help to avoid problems too.

Don't know if that's any help though! Good luck :)

[Stellata]

Personal safety also goes beyond the ideas of physical violence [don't forget sexual violence]. There's the whole issue of emotional seductiveness [you can talk about counter-transference] and drawing the clinician in, which could lead to collusion, and is not a safe place. That gives the client power and can be the under-current to continuation in criminal behaviour.
Making the client feel safe - remembering that often violence comes from deep pain [read 'Pain and Violence'] and being able to interpret that can support the sense of safety all round.

[Optimus Pirate]

I love you guys so much :)

I've not had a proper chance to read through all these ideas yet (willprocess stuff when i'm sober :P) but they have got my brain thinking again at least! So thanks you so so so much!!!

Any more ideas are always welcome :)