A Trauma-Informed Understanding of Online Offending

‘This book represents a particular lens for analysts and therapists, dissecting a case study’s life experience to better understand how trauma has shaped his behaviour, both violent and sexual. His passage through the Criminal Justice System is as compassion-free as his therapist is trauma-informed. This was a pleasure to read; Glyn Hudson-Allez has critiqued many assumptions that we have traditionally regarded as undisputed, evidenced her thoughts with neuroscience research and thereby making us think again. The brutalisation of this young man is laid bare for all to see; you will need to read to the end to be able to address your own thoughts as to what or who caused the greatest damage. It leaves me with the question, “will we ever learn?”.’

Antounette Phillipedes, Chair, StopSO.

‘This is a brilliant read for practitioners who work with people who have sexually offended in society. The book is completely underpinned by neuroscience and what is understood about how traumatic childhood experiences damage people. Many damaged children become damaged adults if not given the right trauma-informed support at the right time. This is what I see 100% of the time in my own working practice working with men, women and children. Glyn Hudson-Allez has brilliantly linked the theories into what they look like in practice with the character in the book.’

Terri Van Leeson, PhD, Consultant Forensic Psychologist.

‘This unique book is essential reading for any practitioner who works with clients who offend, or are at risk of offending, online. It provides engaging insight from a case throughout and comprehensive explanations into some of the psychological mechanisms underlying this type of offending.’

Clare Allely, Professor of Forensic Psychology, University of Salford.

‘A multi-layered book, based on a lifetime of delivering therapy to the most marginalised. Whilst not losing focus on child protection and welfare, the text offers a revealing insight into the part trauma and neurobiology play in internet offending, particularly for males who are neurodivergent. This is a progressive, humane and necessary book, informed by a desire for balance and justice for all.’

Andrew Smith, PhD, Risk Assessor/Forensic Therapist and Expert Witness.

Dr Glyn Hudson-Allez is a BPS Chartered Psychologist and a Registered Member and Supervisor of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists. She has worked as a therapist for nearly 40 years, 8 of which were in primary health care, latterly specialised in working with people who have diverse or potentially deviant sexual behaviour, using her unique therapeutic style of integrating attachment theory and neuroscientific research. She has published four books: Time Limited Therapy in a General Practice Setting (1997, Sage); Sex & Sexuality: Questions and Answers for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (2005, Whurr); Infant Losses, Adult Searches: A Neural and Developmental Perspective on Psychopathology and Sexual Offending (2011, Karnac) now in its second edition, and her edited book, Sexual Diversity and Sexual Offending: Research, Assessment and Clinical Treatment in Psychosexual Therapy (2014, Karnac). In 2020, Glyn became a Trustee of the charity Specialist Treatment Organisation for the Perpetrators and Survivors of Sexual Offending (StopSO), and is currently Vice Chair. Glyn has two professional fellowships: The Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists in Primary Care (CPC), and The College for Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT).