Explorations in Forensic Psychotherapy

Explorations in Forensic Psychotherapy: The Work of the Portman Clinic from 1933 to the Present examines the work and the culture of the Portman Clinic in London and its pioneering contribution, over more than ninety years, to the understanding and treatment of criminal and deviant behaviour.In each chapter, past and present clinicians at the Clinic describe their thinking and clinical work in relation to specific patterns of behaviour and the contexts in which they can be understood. Addressing topics as varied as internet offending, shame and stalking, each author reflects on how their work continues the Clinic’s legacy of psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic understanding. Theoretical perspectives on violence, sexual deviance, delinquency and criminality are interwoven with the practical and technical challenges of working with this demanding but rewarding patient group. The book also addresses questions of risk and ethics, and the institutional complexities that arise in the care and treatment of these individuals.This book will be essential reading for psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychoanalysts working in forensic settings. It will also be of interest to other professionals who work with people with personality disorders, and to those working with patients in mental health services, the criminal justice system and private practice.