Mad or Bad?: A Critical Approach to Counselling and Forensic Psychology
- Andreas Vossler - The Open University
- Catriona Havard - The Open University
- Graham Pike - The Open University
- Meg-John Barker - Independent Scholar, UK
- Bianca Raabe - The Open University
· 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.
While the title of the book will either attract or repel potential readers, undertaking a critical review of counselling and forensic psychology is to be welcomed. Contributions by expert psychotherapists and clinical, counselling and forensic psychologists working in a multiplicity of forensic settings alongside academics, many with practitioner experience, ensures that a range of views, disciplines and approaches are fully explored. With chapters covering issues such as media representations, identities, sexual offending, diagnosis, treatment, therapeutic practice and prevention, this book is a highly recommended read for students, academics and practitioners interested in mental health and its relationship with criminality.
This collection sheds new light on the problems of people with mental health difficulties in the criminal justice system. It carefully shows that we cannot just label people as "mad" or "bad" but must instead consider a complex set of interacting social, psychological, legal and circumstantial factors, in order to understand how people become caught up in crime. This outstanding book will be essential reading for students or anyone interested in the complicated relationship between mental health, contemporary social life and criminal justice.
A quite remarkable and very well-researched book, in both its range and depth of exploring how our legal and psychiatric systems are used to control people who are different. The tensions between punishment and treatment are thoroughly examined. Critical socio-psychology at its finest!
A really interesting perspective is taken on the overlap between Forensic and Counselling Psychology, with contributions for experts in the field and use of contemporary research. A thought-provoking read.
