Forensic Psychologist Brampton, Richmond Hill, & Stouffville
Forensic Psychological Services
Forensic Services
Clients generally seek or are referred for forensic treatment services to address factors that have contributed to offences before the court or behaviours that have brought them into contact with law enforcement. Some examples of issues addressed by clients who seek forensic treatment at Drummond Psychological Services include:
- Aggression and violent offending
- Threatening, antisocial, or inappropriate sexual behaviours in schools or workplace
- Intimate partner violence
- Violence and risk behaviours in school or workplace
- Trauma/PTSD
- Depression/Anxiety
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Sexual regulation or sexual offence-related behaviours and thoughts
- Difficulty with problem-solving skills and decision making
- Impulsivity and emotion regulation difficulties
Forensic Psychology Approach
Drummond Psychological Services approaches legal issues with empathy, expertise, and decades of work with justice-involved clients in custody and community settings. Clients, referral sources, and courts are provided with tailored forensic psychological services to address presenting concerns and guide decision-making and risk management. As an experienced forensic psychologist, Dr. Drummond offers evidence-based forensic psychological services (evidence-based treatment interventions, comprehensive assessments, and consultation) for a range of presenting concerns and legal matters involving adolescents and adults who have engaged in criminal or antisocial behaviour.
Specifically, Dr. Drummond and Drummond Psychological Services staff are available to conduct forensic assessments as part of the following proceedings: pre-sentencing evaluations, risk assessments for general offending, violent offending, sexual offending, and work and school-related risk assessments. He also conducts Section 34 (Youth Criminal Justice Act) court-ordered assessments to inform court decisions.
Dr. Drummond provides consultation related to violence, sexual offending, antisocial behaviour in school and work settings, and supporting individuals with complex mental health challenges.
Forensic Treatment
Forensic treatment covers a variety of areas that may be relevant to a client’s offending and lifestyle. The individual’s offence, life circumstances, needs, and ability will determine the specific treatment approach taken. The decision about how to proceed with treatment will be co-constructed with each client. Clients will engage in discussions pertaining to the emotions, thoughts, and actions that contributed to their offence.
Specifically, treatment sessions will address areas that are relevant to offence/offending and will minimally consist of the following components: understanding the background/criminogenic factors that contributed to offending behaviours; establishing and maintaining healthy prosocial behaviours; general understanding of the consequences/impact of offending; victim empathy and increase understanding of how victims are impacted by offending; understanding of the beliefs, values, and attitudes that supported offending behaviour; managing factors that are essential to living a healthy offence-free life; and developing a relapse prevention plan that proactively addresses risk factors and warning signs that may lead to reoffending.
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are predictions, estimating the likelihood of an individual engaging in antisocial behaviour or criminal offending. These types of assessments are usually conducted to provide courts with insights and recommendations regarding how to effectively deal with individuals who have been charged or found guilty of a crime. A risk assessment will evaluate individual and situational factors relevant to offending and the evidence-based interventions that would be most appropriate for each individual. Also, the assessment report will identify issues that should be considered when implementing treatment interventions.
Risk assessments include reviewing and obtaining collateral information (e.g., police reports, employment records, witness statements, victim statements and interviews with treatment providers), clinical interviews of the offender, and psychological testing with structured/validated instruments. In addition, where appropriate, actuarial instruments are used to statistically determine various risk factors that would increase or decrease the likelihood of an individual re-offending. Strengths and protective factors are also considered that can reduce an individual’s risk of reoffending.
Drummond Psychological Services provides services to clients in Brampton, Stouffville, Richmond Hill, and Toronto. Interested in getting started? Learn about our process or get in touch.
