Forensic social work
Forensic social work is an application of social behavioural science to questions and issues relating to law and legal systems. This speciality goes far beyond clinics and psychiatric hospitals for criminal defendants being evaluated and treated on issues of competency and responsibility. It can be otherwise defined as a social science practice that relates to legal issues and litigation, both criminal and civil. Also falling under this definition is child custody issues involving separation, divorce, neglect and termination of parental rights; the assessment and implications of abuse; juvenile and adult justice systems and mandated treatment.
Forensic or psycholegal assessment in:
Family law matters
- I am called upon to assess divorcing parents and their children so to focus on relevant considerations with regards to contact and care arrangements.
Sexual offences
- Evaluations of child sexual abuse allegation.
- Assisting with the process of reporting abuse to the authorities.
- Assessment of victims and providing expert testimony to courts regarding the short- and long-term psychological and emotional effects of the sexual crime.
- Preparation of child or adult victims for testimony in Courts for Sexual Offences.
- Addressing the court on the appropriate way in which the victim should give testimony.
Child care or children's court matters
- Assessment of development, care and exposure of children when asked by indiviuals or children's rights organizations.
- Presenting recommendations regarding care and protection that are in the child's best interest.
The criminal setting
- Assisting the presiding officer of the court with sentencing options, based on an equally proportioned view of the profile of the accused, versus the interest of and emergent risk for the community, versus the criminal liability.
Adjustment to change and personal growth
Change can sometimes be viewed as stressful. Stressful circumstances can be overwhelming and influence our ability to cope. In our struggle to cope, a depressed mood, anxiety, panic, post-traumatic stress, obsessive compulsive tendencies etc. can present. Therapy from a psychodynamic approach is offered.
Family transactional assessment and parental guidance
Assessment or family therapy and guidance is offered if:
- parent-child relationship problems present,
- discipline, boundary and conflict issues occcur at home,
- attachment issues present,
- acting-out behaviour presents, and
- where family re-integration or any other family-related issues occur.
Mediation and facilitation
Within family law in South Africa, parties are being increasingly encouraged to mediate divorce settlements. Mediation can be viewed as parties negotiating a divorce agreement and managing the consequences thereof. Mediation, when used as a tool for conflict management and joint problem solving, is particularly useful when children are involved. However, when a consistent pattern of unresolved conflict and disagreement persists, facilitation is regularly included in parenting plans. The appointed facilitator can issue a directive to provide an outcome in circumstances where parties are deadlocked.
Play therapy
Play therapy is a dynamic approach in which games, toys and mediums such as drawings, sand and clay are used to help children express their feelings, needs, experiences and thoughts. Play therapy assists children and even teens to make sense of upsetting and muddled feelings. It helps them to communicate and deal with their psychological issues.
Play therapy from a Gestalt perspective is offered:
Gestalt therapy focuses on the emotional and sensory process of the client. The most important areas of concern are the thoughts and feelings people are experiencing at the moment. The goal is for clients to become aware of what they are doing, how they are doing it and how they can change themselves and at the same time learn to accept and value themselves. Gestalt therapy was founded by Fritz Perls (1893 - 1970).
Psychotherapy for individuals
Traumatic events can be described as circumstances in which an individual experiences, witnesses or is confronted with an event that involves serious injury or threat. Responses to traumatic events entail intense fear, helplessness and horror.
Trauma counselling is offered to victims of sexual assault, rape, physical abuse, child maltreatment, assault, armed robberies and to those who witnessed a horror.
Inidividual psychotheray is offered to adult and teens who:
- struggle with loss and bereavement,
- are victims of abuse, neglect and harassment,
- struggle with everyday challenges,
- struggle with dependency and co-dependency.
Relationship challenges
Several challenges present in relationships due to, among other things, stress, differences in problem solving, boundaries, role identification and -confusion, opposing interests and family systems. Therapy for couples, gay couples, team members and family systems is offered.
Training, information sessions and supervision
Training is presented on the following topics:
- Assessing allegations of sexual abuse
- Expert testimony in courts
- Interactional analysis
- Parental guidance
- Intermediaries in Courts for Sexual Offences
Supervision is presented on the following themes, but is not limited to:
- Forensic assessment
- Child care
- Gestalt therapy
- Play therapy
- Generic social work
- Professional development
- Professional report writing
- Adult learning
- Social diagnosis
