Dr Geraldine Akerman

Geraldine Akerman is a chartered and HCPC registered forensic psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She has worked for the prison service since 1999 assessing risk and providing treatment to men convicted of violent and sexual offences and with complex needs. She has been on the Executive Committee of the Division of Forensic Psychology since 2009 in various roles, most recently as the Conference Lead, and the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers Research committee, advising on research relevant to that organisation.

Geraldine is a Clinical member of ATSA, and the International Association of Forensic Psychotherapists. Geraldine was the co-editor of Forensic Update and is currently a reviewer for Forensic Update, along with other major journals in the area of forensic psychology, criminal psychology and sexual offending. Geraldine is Co-Series Editor of Issues in Forensic Psychology book series. Geraldine is a visiting Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and Cardiff Metropolitan University. Further, Geraldine has presented at national and international conferences and run training on and published articles, book chapters and in peer reviewed journals on the subjects of, offence paralleling behaviour, managing deviant sexual fantasies, sexual interests, sexual offending and ex-service personnel in prison. Geraldine has been a member of Therapeutic Communities Accreditation Panel since 2016, a Trustee for the Safer Living Foundation since July, a TC specialist for Community of Communities, Royal College of Psychiatrists Centre for Quality Improvement, and a member of the JUSTICE working party for prosecuting sexual offences since January 2018.

Geraldine has recently co-edited a book on Enabling Environments and is currently co-editing a book on the subject of assessing and managing problematic sexual interests. Geraldine currently works as the Therapy Manager on the Enhanced Assessment Unit at HMP Grendon and was awarded a PhD by the University of Birmingham in 2015. Geraldine was presented with the Senior Practitioner Award by the Division of Forensic Psychology 2018 for distinguished contribution to Forensic Psychology.