People hurt people: reconceptualising criminogenic need to promote trauma sensitive and compassion focussed practice

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to outline the human capacity for harmfulness and details the role of trauma and adversity in the consolidation of harmful capacities. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a theoretical overview and offers a rationale for developing more trauma sensitive practices. Findings The paper proposes compassion focussed therapy (CFT) as an overarching approach to organising interventions. Practical implications The paper invites practitioners to develop a holistic approach to forensic interventions incorporating a collaborative formulation and personal objectives for service users. Originality/value CFT and trauma informed approaches to working with risk are relatively new in the forensic field. This paper provides a rationale for the further development of such approaches within forensic settings.