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Pre-Trial Therapy Resources

The current PTT guidance (CPS, 2022) & some implications for our practice.

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PTT Articles & Resources

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'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

Read Avoiding possible pitfalls

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'Doing Clients Justice

Jill & Peter Jenkins write in BACP's Therapy Today about the new CPS Pre-Trial Therapy guidance (2022) - published in 2022

Read Doing Clients Justice 

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'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. 

Read Supporting victims 

​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. 

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'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)

Read chapter

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For BACP members:

Good Practice in Action Guidance GPIA128 

Working with CPS PTT Guidance in England & Wales,

other past BACP PTT articles/features

primarily about the old guidance (CPS, 2001)

&

The new law to protect rape survivors therapy notes

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(NOTE: if looking for 'Doing Clients Justice' on the BACP website search the title)

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'Counselling victims and witnesses of crime

Jill Swindells 2012 

Research paper

Read research paper

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Rape victims’ notes being used against them in court puts vital counselling sessions at risk, therapists warn.

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)

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'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:

  • Consult the current CPS guidance (2022) & any future amendments

  • Seek PTT training/CPD & discuss in supervision

  • Develop PTT paperwork, policies & procedures to enable a proactive rather than reactive approach

  • Remember 'achieving justice can itself have real therapeutic value when appropriate support is in place'

  • 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: 

 

  • 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 

                                                                                        Special measures             

                                                                                        Intermediaries

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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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  • 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

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WARNING: These 2 links are not suitable for anyone who might find reading/hearing about others experience of abuse distressing, triggering or re-traumatising.

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