Counselling In Prisons Network

Welcome to the Counselling in Prisons Network, the professional body dedicated to supporting counsellors and therapists working in the criminal justice system. Established in 2007, our network was founded to provide a professional home for practitioners working in this unique and challenging environment. Our primary focus is to pool expertise, share best practice, and provide an evidence base for therapeutic practice within the criminal justice system.

As a Partner Organisation in The WHO Partnership for health in the criminal justice system, we are committed to sharing publications, good practice guidelines, and other prison health-related information. Our vision is to develop and agree on best practice for engaging, managing, and treating offenders in custodial settings, with the aim of pushing back the boundaries of what is possible in this field.

Our Team

Our team is made up of experienced professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of offenders through therapeutic interventions.

*Monika Egli-Alge, M.Sc.* is a forensic psychologist and psychotherapist and the Founder of forio. She has a wide range of experience in outpatient psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment of children, young people, and families, as well as inpatient care of adults with intellectual disabilities. Forio provides forensic therapies in prisons with perpetrators and runs a prevention-programme for men with a sexual preference for children and adults. Since the early 1990s, Egli-Alge has been a key practitioner in the development of treatment for sex offenders, and in 2002, she and her teams developed the first treatment for sex offenders with intellectual disabilities in the German-speaking regions. Egli-Alge has published numerous academic outputs and has a track record of national and international conference presentations. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards for the Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine, Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin (Germany), boardmember of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Pravention und Intervention bei Kindesmisshandlung, -vernachlassigung und sexueller Gewalt DGfPI and member of ATSA. Forio, as an independent institution, makes survey reports (perpetrators and credibility), and Egli-Alge is responsible for this. In cooperation with universities of applied sciences, Egli-Alge is involved in education and with partners in Germany and Austria, Egli-Alge is involved in prevention issues. Monika Egli-Alge has two adult sons.*

*Professor Michael Brookes OBE* is a consultant chartered and registered forensic psychologist and was formerly Director of Therapeutic Communities at HMP Grendon. Prior to this appointment, Michael worked as an Area Psychologist, at HMPS HQ and in a secure Youth Treatment Centre. He is an OBE for services to HM Prison Service and the Care of Prisoners. Michael has entered academia to share his knowledge and experience with students interested in the professional application of forensic psychology.

*Dr Euan Hails* is employed as the Consultant Nurse for S-CAMHS at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. He has extensive experience in providing cognitive behavioural, psychosocial interventions and family work to individuals with psychosis and their families/carers. Euan has extensive experience in developing accredited skills-based courses designed to enable mental health workers to develop skills in psychological interventions. He has worked in the UK, Ireland, and Australia and delivered skills-based training, clinical intervention packages, and service developments. He is currently developing At Risk Mental State and Early Intervention Psychosis Services locally and nationally as the First Episode Psychosis Lead at the 1000LIVES I mental health section at Public Health Wales, Welsh Government. He also represents Wales at the UK wide IRIS.

Services Offered

The Counselling in Prisons Network offers a range of services to support counsellors and therapists working in the criminal justice system. Our services include:

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• Sharing best practice through networking, conferences, and a virtual learning site
• Conducting relevant research to inform practice and development
• Developing and agreeing on best practice for engaging, managing, and treating offenders in custodial settings
• Providing an evidence base for therapeutic practice within the criminal justice system
• Collaborating with other organisations to promote prison health and wellbeing
• Offering education and training opportunities for practitioners
• Providing survey reports and prevention services through independent institutions

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Conclusion

The Counselling in Prisons Network is committed to supporting counsellors and therapists working in the criminal justice system. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to improving the lives of offenders through therapeutic interventions, and we offer a range of services to support practitioners in this challenging environment. Through best practice sharing, research, and collaboration, we aim to push back the boundaries of what is possible in this field and promote prison health and wellbeing.