03: Coaching in prisons

In today’s episode Dr Natalie Lancer explores with Dr Nic Bowes, Honorary Professor Geraldine Akerman, Vicki Cardwell and Lilian Flynn, how coaching can impact both prisoners and prison staff. Coaching is used by forensic psychologists and volunteer coaches to develop motivated prisoners’ full potential. We learn about the challenges and rewards of coaching in this environment, through discussing:

•    How is coaching employed in the prison system?
•    How do coaches get the prisoners engaged in the coaching process?
•    How do coaches work with prison staff?
•    How do forensic psychologists contribute to a coaching culture?
•    How can coaching help prisoners prepare for being released? 
•    How can coaches and prisoners be flexible and innovative when engaging with coaching in a complex, prison environment?
•    How can a focus on the whole person inspire relationship, engagement and meaning in a prisoner’s life?
•    How can a strengths-based coaching approach be used to nurture a sense of hope, compassion and self-actualisation?
•    How can coaching in a prison sharpen a coach’s skills and practice?
•    What is involved in becoming a volunteer coach in a prison?

Coaching in prisons can have an enormous impact on prisoners and staff, as well as the coaches involved, and yet this is a coaching context that is rarely discussed. We reveal in this conversation the different ways coaching is employed by forensic psychologists and coaches in a prison environment. Our guests today are:

Dr Nic Bowes is a forensic psychologist and has over 20 years of clinical experience, working with people who have committed serious offences. She is a Reader in Forensic Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University, leads the largest Higher Education Practitioner Forensic Psychology training programme in the UK. Nic is also an active researcher. Her specialism and research interests focus on criminal violence and in the prevention of, treatment of and management of violence. Nic is also the Chair of the British Psychological Society Division of Forensic Psychology.  

Honorary Professor Dr Geraldine Akerman is a forensic psychologist who has worked in prisons for over 24 years. Geraldine has worked with young people and adult males in secure and open prisons, encouraging residents and staff to reach their potential. The majority of her career was in a therapeutic community. Geraldine helps prison staff develop their skillsets and enhance their learning to help them achieve more job satisfaction, thus aiding retention in what can be a challenging environment. Geraldine is the past Chair of the British Psychological Society Division of Forensic Psychology.

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