This book takes a new and innovative approach to looking at the commonalities and disparities between counselling/psychotherapy and forensic psychology. It aims to develop a critical understanding of the themes and issues related to crime and therapy that are highly relevant to theory and practice, yet are often ignored or neglected.

A cutting-edge text that provides a comprehensive introduction to mental health problems and criminal behaviour, this book explores the link between mental health and criminality and considers the most common and effective therapeutic approaches for working with offenders and victims of crime.

·           Part 1 explores the predominant tensions between forensic and therapeutic agendas;

·           Part 2 considers how criminal and ‘insane’ identities and careers may be considered gendered, classed, culturally and age-dependent experiences, and be related to power and oppression;

·           Part 3 examines issues around sex and sexuality in forensic and therapeutic settings;

·           Part 4 introduces a range of therapeutic approaches for working with offenders and victims of crime;

·           Part 5 covers forensic and therapeutic practices, including programmes for the prevention of both mental health issues and offending.

Edited by an expert team from the Open University and written by a broad range of contributors, this book draws on a wealth of experience in this popular subject area. It will be a key text for students of forensic psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, and for health and social care professionals working in therapeutic and forensic settings.

Part I: Mad or bad? - Setting the scene
Working therapeutically in forensic settings - Andreas Vossler, Catriona Havard, Meg-John Barker, Graham Pike, Bianca Raabe and Zoe Walkington
Historical overview - Catriona Havard and Katherine D. Watson
Media representations - Troy Cooper and Simon Cross
Diagnosis and categorisation - David Pilgrim
Part II: Mad/bad identities
Race - Hári Sewell
Gender - Jane E.M. Callaghan and Joanne H. Alexander
Age - Emily Glorney
Class - Daniel Holman
Part III: Sex and sexuality in mental health and crime
Sexual assault and abuse - Tara N. Richards and Joan A. Reid
Sex and sexuality in the therapy room - Amanda O′Donovan
‘Paraphilias’ - Jemma Tosh
Sex work - Allan Tyler
Part IV: Treatment
Attachment-based approaches - Mary Haley
Cognitive behavioural therapy - Matt Bruce
Systemic approaches - Andreas Vossler, Brigitte Squire and Clare Bingham
Mindfulness - Meg-John Barker and Troy Cooper
Part V: Dichotomies in forensic and therapeutic practice
Memory - Nadia Wager
Self-harm and suicide - Andrew Reeves and Paul Taylor
Contexts - Henry Strick van Linschoten
Prevention - Nadia Wager and Graham Pike