Pre-Trial Therapy Resources

The original guidance (CPS, 2001) was finally updated in 2022. It is primarily aimed at prosecutors & police to help inform their practice & procedures in relation to PTT, particularly around requesting therapy notes, improving their understanding & overcome common myths about the impact of crime/trauma on victims memory & behaviour.

COMMENT: As outlined earlier (PTT brief history & key challenges), given the poor understanding & limited use of the old guidance for over 20 years, it is helpful for therapists to be familiar with this part of the PTT guidance as they need to be able to identify & challenge anyone in the CJS not following the new guidance - either continuing to advise against it or not following key aspects.

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The latest guidance also includes 4 fundamental principles & an accompanying note for therapists to aid our understanding of the criminal process, to avoid the pitfalls of certain elements/types of therapy & respond appropriately to police/CPS requests for our notes - in line with PTT guidance, data protection legislation & GDPR.

Read PTT Guidance (2022)

Read PTT fundamental principles (2022)

Read PTT therapists' notes (2022)

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According to the guidance, our client is only considered to be 'pre-trial' if they are a victim who has made an allegation of a crime committed against them personally.  It focusses on victims of sexual crimes, but it also applicable to victims of other offences.

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COMMENT: However, ideally a 'PTT-informed approach' should be adopted as soon as it becomes evident that there is a possibility a client might become involved in the criminal justice system; this may be from the outset of therapy, but possibly later after generic counselling, rather than PTT, has begun.  We need to tell our clients about PTT & the implications on our practice, so they can make fully informed decisions as therapy proceeds. Therapists need to be mindful of any newly emerging safeguarding concerns & that clients' situations &/ decisions may change. To clarify: 

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• If a client has already reported, they will officially be 'pre-trial' from the outset 

• If a client decides to report during generic therapy, they should be reassessed & recontract for PTT

• If a client decides not to report & there are no safeguarding issues, generic counselling can be adopted, but it is important clients are made aware of the risks of changing their mind later/the possibility of others reporting. 

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COMMENT: The 'clients abuser' dilemma in Articles & Resources below demonstrates the value of adopting a 'pre-trial informed approach'.  The guidance is not designed for criminal court witnesses or alleged offenders, nor those involved in family or civil proceedings, but some aspects of the guidance can be helpful.  The 'Access to case notes' & 'Child pornography disclosure' dilemmas in Articles show how some PTT principles can help inform decision making & good practice when working with alleged offenders.