Person-centred qualitative research & facilitation.
Person centred counselling & psychotherapy.
'Pre-trial Therapy' training & resources.
Pre-Trial Therapy Resources
The current PTT guidance (CPS, 2022) & some implications for our practice.
PTT Articles & Resources
IMAGES?
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Pre-Trial Therapy Guidance (2022)
This guidance is aimed at prosecutors but contains helpful information for the police. It is complemented by an accompanying note for professionals providing therapy for victims before a criminal trial - see adjacent.
NOTE:
It is recommended that therapists & supervisors read the prosecutors guidance too, so they are aware of what prosecutors & the police should be doing now & are able to challenge wrong or poor practice, such as advising victims not to have therapy pre-trial or making 'unreasonable' requests for client notes.​
Pre-Trial Therapy Guidance - Accompanying note for therapists (2022)
This accompanying note provides complementary information for therapists working with clients who have been victims of a criminal offence.
Read the accompanying note for therapists
NOTE:
Whilst this guidance is designed for working appropriately with clients who have been or are victims of crime, it provides some good practice principles for working with other clients whose notes might be requested - crime witnesses, alleged offenders, those going through family courts or asylum applications, etc.
- see BACP Therapy Today Dilemmas below​
'What we need to know about pre-trial
therapy to avoid possible pitfalls'
Jill writes in BACP's Private Practice Journal about the key issues of PPT guidance (2022) - published in 2024
'Doing Clients Justice'
Jill & Peter Jenkins write in BACP's Therapy Today about the new CPS Pre-Trial Therapy guidance (2022) - published in 2022
'Supporting victims when they need it most'
Jill writes in BACP's Therapy Today about the possible changes to the CPS Pre-Trial Therapy (2001) guidance - published in 2020.
​BACP's Therapy Today Dilemmas
Jill responds to some dilemmas where a 'PTT informed' approach can be helpful when working with others, including alleged offenders - published 2017 - 2019.
'Legal and ethical issues in therapeutic work in the CJS'
by Peter Jenkins and Jill Swindells from 'Interventions in Criminal Justice, Volume 2'
(Ed. Peter Jones, Pavilion Publishing, 2015)
​
For BACP members:
Good Practice in Action Guidance GPIA128
Working with CPS PTT Guidance in England & Wales,
also search for other past BACP PTT articles/features
primarily about the old guidance (CPS, 2001)
&
The recent legal policy win to help protect rape survivors therapy notes
​(BACP, 2025)
​
Police can request therapy notes to aid investigations - but campaigners say these should be kept out of rape trials and warn their use can be 're-traumatising'
By Serina Sandhu (October 2022)
(Jill comments)
​
'Top Tips' & other sources of client support
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When working with a client who may possibly proceed to court, adopt a 'PTT-informed approach' - therapists are strongly advised to:
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Consult the current CPS guidance (2022) & any future amendments
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Seek PTT training/CPD & discuss in supervision
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Develop PTT paperwork, policies & procedures to enable a proactive rather than reactive approach
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Remember 'achieving justice can itself have real therapeutic value when appropriate support is in place'
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For concerns /dilemmas now or later talk to your supervisor, professional body, insurance provider, safe guarding lead
or contact Jill @ QUAL for an informal chat
​
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Also, familiarise yourself with other sources of client information, advice & support, outlined below:
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Victim Support offering emotional & practical support in Victim Support the community to victims following a crime:
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Witness Service provided by Citizens' Advice provides pre-court Witness Service
familiarisation visits & supports victims/witnesses when attending court:
NOTE: In some areas the above 2 services are run by other organisations
​
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Other types of support may be available, such as: ISVA in cases of sexual violence
IDVA in cases of domestic violence
​
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The CPS have 2 Victims’ Guides which outline what victims need to know/do at different stages,
what support is available including special measures, the stages involved in building a criminal
case & going to a trial, one for rape & sexual assault victims and the other for all other victims
​​
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Additional information & support can be found here:
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​Your rights, reporting & understanding the process:
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GOV.UK:
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Support from the National Crime Agency
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Reporting to the police & if there is enough evidence, proceeding to a criminal trial is not the only option available. To hear others stories of recovery, seeking justice & compensation with the support of abuse specialist lawyers Bolt Burden Kemp (BBK):
BBK success stories & Survivors Stories
​
​
WARNING: These 2 links are not suitable for anyone who might find reading/hearing about others experience of abuse distressing, triggering or re-traumatising.