Reference no: EM133878636

Assignment:

Provide a report that evaluates the specific challenges and issues that might be faced by prison staff planning to implement a therapeutic service (as described in the hypothetical scenario provided below).

You are a psychological consultant who has been contacted by a women's prison. The governor of the prison wants to implement a therapeutic service and offer the prisoners therapy.

Many of the women have experienced sexual and domestic abuse and have been convicted several times for various crimes. A recent inspection of the prison reported that there were high levels of self-harm and attempted suicide by the prisoners and it was suggested that a number of the prisoners would benefit from receiving therapy.

The governor is requesting a report on the issues that need to be taken into consideration in setting up the therapeutic service.

• The report needs to not only provide the benefits of offering therapy but also any drawbacks and potential challenges that may be associated with offering therapy in a forensic setting.
• The report should present an argument in relation to which of the four therapeutic approaches in the module (attachment therapy, CBT, systemic therapy and mindfulness), should be offered to the prisoners, with an appropriate rationale. It should explain why particular therapies might be beneficial and outline any potential drawbacks associated with them.
• The report should discuss why the prisoners may not respond to therapy, how to help those who have suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and how to deal with victims of sexual and domestic abuse.
• The report should also discuss how to prevent reoffending as many have been convicted several times.
• The report should include general suggestions and recommendations for the governor rather than specific guidance on how the therapeutic service should be set up in this prison.
• Follow this format: Summary: brief summing up of the whole report, including a summary of your recommendations.

Introduction: a fairly brief introduction informing the reader of the situation (not more than two or three sentences).

Possible types of service provision: e.g. discussion of the suitability of individual/group therapy and therapeutic community for the setting described in the scenario.

Therapeutic approaches and their application in the work with women prisoners: discuss the different therapeutic approaches (attachment therapy, CBT, systemic therapy and mindfulness) for therapeutic work with women prisoners. While all four approaches should be considered, at least to some extent, it is not necessary for all four approaches to be discussed in the same depth. You may, for example, choose to elaborate on the approach(es) you recommend, and the rationale for this selection, and offer only a brief discussion of the approaches that are not recommended.

Therapeutic work with self-harm and suicide/victims of sexual and domestic abuse: consider some of the issues involved in working with woman prisoners who self-harm or hold suicidal ideation or intent, and how to deal with victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

Recommendations: include your opinion, based on evidence, about what kind of therapeutic service (e.g. individual and group therapy, therapeutic community) and therapeutic approach(es) might be the most effective in the given context. You should also consider the specific challenges that those working in the prison might face if your recommendations are implemented.