Delivering group treatment programs in forensic settings can bring incredible growth for both participants and clinicians, however comes with a unique set of challenges that are not often acknowledged. We will discuss a broad overview of group therapy foundations (including Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors and Gestalt Group Therapy) and how these can be viewed and utilised in the forensic setting. The role of the group therapist in a forensic context will then be explored in detail, including how to balance your obligations to the participant, the corrections system and the community.
Then, from a practical perspective, Luke will focus on: (a) the co-facilitator relationship in detail, including how to give and receive feedback while managing defensiveness, (b) dealing with entrenched cognitive distortions in a group context, (c) managing personality disorder dynamics in the group room, and (d) how to balance trauma informed care when group participants are both perpetrators and victims.
The day will finish with learning specific group therapy treatment techniques that Luke has developed and delivered successfully across a number of forensic group treatment programs. These techniques have been adapted from many therapeutic approaches including Motivational Interviewing, Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Mentalisation-Based Treatment. Workshop participants will come away with a variety of skills and techniques to enhance the therapeutic goals and outcomes. Participants are encouraged to come with questions regarding their own group treatment clients.
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forensic Groups Training, Luke Hockey -Presenter Slides (802.9 KB) | Available after Purchase |
Dr. Luke Hockey is an endorsed forensic psychologist with over 10 years’ experience working with individuals with personality disorders. He has worked in private practice, public and private prisons, hospitals and for not-for-profit community organisations. Luke has delivered lectures and training workshops for Deakin University, ISN Psychology College, the APS College of Forensic Psychologists, and government departments. He is passionate about working with challenging clients and providing avenues for change, as well as assisting other clinicians to develop their skills in this area. Luke currently works in private practice, treating a variety of clients, writing psycho-legal assessment reports for court and providing supervision to other mental health professionals.
Morning Session
9:00am - 12:30pm (includes 15 minute break at 10:30am)
Lunch Break
12:30pm - 1:00pm
Afternoon Session
1:00pm - 4:30pm (includes 15 minute break at 2:45pm)
Learning objectives of this training:
How will participants benefit from attending this presentation?
“This training will focus on the unique challenges that come with running group treatment programs in a forensic context, and explore the co-facilitator dynamic, trauma informed care with perpetrators who are also victims, and provide practical skills to use in forensic groups” - Luke Hockey
Morning Session (3 hours with a morning tea break)
Afternoon Session (3 hours with a afternoon tea break)
This training has been designed for anyone working within the criminal justice system running psychoeducational and/or therapeutic group treatment programs. Having a basic knowledge of foundational therapeutic approaches (e.g. CBT, Motivational Interviewing) is recommended. .
This could include psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, occupational therapists or counsellors.
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