IAFP and Forensic Psychotherapy Society Partnership
In 2014 the Forensic Psychotherapy Society (FPS) was founded by colleagues who wanted to create a Forensic Psychotherapy training organisation.
The Objects of the organisation are:
To advance education by the study, development, and application of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy in Forensic and Complex Needs mental health settings including community settings and other public and appropriate private settings (e.g. prisons and probation services) throughout the United Kingdom.
The FPS held its first AGM in September 2015 and then became a Member Institution of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). This means that FPS trainees who complete the FPS training, as well as professionals working as Forensic Psychotherapists who are assessed as being suitable, can join the BPC as registered Psychodynamic Forensic Psychotherapists. In 2015 the FPS elected an Executive Committee comprising of Gabriel Kirtchuk, Carine Minne, Gill McGauley and Richard Ingram. As most will already know tragically Gill died in July 2016 and Gabriel Kirtchuk became very unwell in August 2016. Ronnie Doctor became interim Chair, once Gabriel retired from the NHS in April 2018, until the FPS AGM that took place in September 2018. At this AGM a new Executive Committee was elected comprising of Richard Curen, Katya Orrell, Elena Mundici, Anne Aiyegbusi and Ravi Lingam. There are approximately 20 members of the FPS and a small number of those members have their BPC registration via the FPS.
In January 2019, the FPS approached the IAFP in with a proposal to see if Board members were interested in both organisations forming a working group around developing stronger links between the two organisations. The proposal was accepted and it was agreed that a working group would form. One thought was that the FPS and IAFP think about the development of forming a British Association for Forensic Psychotherapy that would fit under the main IAFP umbrella of National Forensic Psychotherapy Associations. This might be similar to the German, Italian, Russian and Australian Associations.
If you are interested in finding out more about the FPS you can email - info@forensicpsychotherapysociety.org.uk.