1. Sex Offender Work - Forensic Case Study
Emma Allen – Art Psychotherapist, Rampton Hospital
“Richard”, was 50 years old when a resident on a DSPD Unit, diagnosed with anti-social Personality Disorder and
depression, sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, burglary and indecent assault. With a history of violent offences and
relationship breakdowns, Richard described his past as an “abusive unhappy childhood” where he had been witness to
domestic violence, and a substantial history of physical and sexual abuse. Richard had withdrawn from his Sex Offender
Treatment Programme (SOG) but self-referred into Art Therapy which was offered for 18 months. He wished to try Art
Therapy, and hoped to be self-exploratory through image-making in therapy. Richard presented with tendencies to
suppress genuine emotions in order to be superficial to others, and needed to build some trust in being honest about his
feelings, and with re-engaging into SOG. During early stages of therapy, Richard’s images were felt to be ‘picture perfect’,
in control and keep things on a safe, superficial level, where over time, he was able to express his thoughts and feelings
over his incarceration, his “dangerous” personality traits and severe relationship difficulties due to his past abuse. Richard
was able to disclose, that he had witnessed his mother being raped and could explore how this, along with being sexually
abused in care, had influenced his rape offences – and with his difficulties with anger. Richard had become angry with the
idea that “the abused abuse” and wanted to make significant life changes through developing positive therapeutic
relationships. Richard re-engaged into SOG and remained committed to this until completion. The images were a
significant vehicle for linking Richards past with his present, opening up opportunities to re-evaluate his perceptions and
responses. The images replaced words and allowed a more genuine form of expression and communication - difficult
feelings such as anger were able to be explored in a safe way.
“My Personality Disorder”
At the end of therapy, Richard commented that:
“Using art materials gave me a new and alternative way of expressing how I felt and a opportunity to discuss what the
images I created could signify…..Personally I found it very liberating to draw images that came into my head without the
fear of ridicule from others of what I had created.…Art Therapy allowed me to feel safe and to use art that I would never
have considered before. The images I created had quite a profound impact upon me in that they allowed me to express the
emotions I had previously kept hidden away from others, being somebody who can be very over-controlled, Art Therapy
allowed me to let go of some of that control and to explore the emotions I had previously kept out of sight, and
hidden……..I now enjoy weekly art classes where I am constantly trying new things thus giving me new experiences I would
never have tried before I completed Art Therapy. Art Therapy allowed me to explore myself in more detail especially in
regards my mental health issues and how my past has impacted upon my present, and will on my future.”
Richard successfully completed Art Therapy and Sex Offender Treatment and has now moved to medium security.