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