Jo West (Audio); From Prison to Practice: Jo West's Journey

Keywords

forensic psychology, ADHD, prison system, independent practice, emotional wellbeing, mental health, trauma-informed care, psychological assessments, private practice, risk assessment

Summary

In this conversation, Jo West, a consultant forensic psychologist, shares her journey from working in the prison service to establishing her independent practice. She discusses the challenges and differences she observed between male and female prison environments, her experiences with ADHD, and the importance of emotional wellbeing in her field. Jo emphasizes the need for trauma-informed care and the complexities of psychological assessments, particularly in the context of ADHD diagnoses.

Takeaways

Jo West transitioned from the prison service to independent practice.

She found the prison environment both daunting and rewarding.

Jo emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed care in women's prisons.

She has a passion for supporting individuals with ADHD.

Jo's late diagnosis of ADHD provided clarity on her life experiences.

She highlights the challenges of working in private practice without a team.

Jo believes in the importance of thorough psychological assessments.

She uses mindfulness and DBT skills for her own emotional wellbeing.

Jo discusses the pressure of expectations in ADHD assessments.

She finds fulfillment in reducing the chance of reoffending through her work.

Sound bites

"I think it was really trauma-informed."

"I think it can be frustrating."

"I had to come to terms with all that."

Chapters

00:00 Transitioning from Prison Service to Independent Practice

01:32 Journey to Forensic Psychology

04:19 Experiences in Men's vs. Women's Prisons

07:42 Current Work as an Independent Psychologist

08:37 Navigating Parole Hearings

13:02 Challenges of Private Practice

16:12 ADHD Diagnosis and Its Impact

19:16 Expectations Around ADHD Assessments

21:40 Emotional Wellbeing in Forensic Psychology