The Dilemma
by Dr Lars Madsen
One of the biggest challenges for forensic clients is letting go of the overcompensating modes and tolerating the mundanity of ordinary life. Most have failed at school and have never been able to hold a regular job or gain certificates or qualifications. Starting anew is immensely difficult because going ‘straight’ often means starting at the bottom, which is the most challenging, physically demanding, low-paid work. In the community, they are often shunned, and their criminal history is a source of gossip and exclusion by the wider community. It is perhaps no surprise that many patients are drawn back into the criminal lifestyle because they don’t know what else to do and sometimes because it’s the only way to feel a sense of control and power.
