Understanding the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidelines on ‘pre-trial therapy’ can be difficult for therapists. Applying them to clinical practice with victims of crimes often raises questions and concerns.
Can I offer my services as usual to victims of crimes? How do I write notes for 'pre-trial' clients? Should I be worried about how therapy notes might be used in criminal proceedings? How can I protect my client's confidentiality?
Being well-informed and grounded on this topic supports therapists to be there for their clients at a vulnerable time. Whether you need assurance on this topic, or don't know where to start, bring your thoughts and questions to this event.
Please note that the CPS guidelines are only applicable to victims navigating the criminal justice system in England & Wales. The guidelines do not apply to accused / convicted offenders, nor clients going through other legal systems in this part of the UK.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- Up-to-date information on what pre-trial therapy is (and isn't).
- Increase your ability to offer clients therapeutic services on the basis of informed consent.
- Increase your understanding of relevant legal procedures, confidentiality, and data management principles.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- Trainee and qualified practitioners who are unsure of how to apply the Crown Prosecution Service 'pre-trial therapy' guidelines to practice.
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- Improve your confidence and competence in applying the guidelines to your clinical practice.
Additional workshop resources:
- https://therapy-leeds.co.uk/
- https://pretrialtherapy.co.uk/
- https://www.routledge.com/Psychotherapy-with-Survivors-of-Sexual-Violence-Inside-and-Outside-the-Room/Hadjiioannou/p/book/9780367429515
- https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/pre-trial-therapy
- https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/pre-trial-therapy-accompanying-note-therapists
Course Content
Presenter
Erene (she/her) is an Integrative Psychotherapist and Supervisor with specialist skills are in working with the traumatic impact of sexual and domestic abuse, including clients navigating the criminal justice process. She has worked with adult clients since 2010 in many clinical settings.
Erene is also a writer, speaker, trainer, and activist. Publications include ‘Psychotherapy with Survivors of Sexual Violence: Inside & Outside the Room’ (Routledge, 2021).
Between 2019 and 2022 Erene was part of an independent steering group that successfully contributed to changing the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines (England & Wales) on ‘pre- trial therapy’.
Between 2014 and 2018 Erene set up and co-ordinated two services in Leeds where every person referred had experienced abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, financial). At present, she is based solely in her private practice called Therapy Leeds.
A full list of working experience, speaking engagements, and publications are available here: www.therapy-leeds.co.uk/about.
