Geraldine joined the School of Psychology in January 2024. Geraldine is an associate fellow with the British Psychological Society, Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Geraldine is a EuroPsych Registered Psychologist and a Chartered Scientist. Geraldine was the winner of Division of Forensic Psychology Distinguished Contribution Senior Award 2018
Geraldine is an Honorary Professor with Cardiff Metropolitan University and Honorary Associate Clinical Professor with Birmingham University. Geraldine is a Director of Forensic Psychology Network (FPN) Ltd and is trained in the use of the many cognitive functioning tools and assessment measures. Geraldine is co-founder of Let’s Talk Forensic Psychology YouTube channel and podcast. Geraldine has worked with males in the criminal justice system for over 27 years. Geraldine is a former Chair of the Division of Forensic Psychology Executive committee and a reviewer for Forensic Update. Geraldine is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, Cardiff Metropolitan University and teaches the module on Forensic Psychology at the University of Buckingham. Geraldine studied at Roehampton Institute for her BSC. in Psychology and Counselling, at the University of Leicester for her MSC. in Legal and Forensic psychology and the University of Birmingham for her PhD.
Research interests
Geraldine’s research interests include therapeutic communities, offence paralleling behaviour, sexual offending, compassion-focussed therapy, trauma-informed practice, and father’s in prison and published extensively with experts by experience.
Publications
Academic Journal articles
Akerman, G. (2002) Development of a checklist to measure community minded behaviour in a prison – based therapeutic community, Forensic Update, 69, 17-29.
Akerman, G. (2003). Developing ways to enhance victim empathy with men who have committed offences via the Internet, Nota News, 45, 23-24.
Akerman, G. (2005) Applying fantasy modification techniques in line with the Good Lives model with learning disability as a confounding factor: A case study, Nota News 49.
Akerman, G. (2008). The Development of a fantasy modification programme for a prison-based therapeutic community. International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 29, 180-188.
Akerman, G. (2009). Developing a fantasy-modification programme in a democratic community at HMP Grendon. Forensic Update 98, 16-20.
Akerman, G. (2011). Offence paralleling behaviour and the custodial good life at HMP Grendon. Forensic Update, 104, 20-25.
Akerman, G. & Beech A. (2011). A systematic review of measures of deviant sexual interest and arousal. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 19, 118-143. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2010.547161
Akerman, G. (2012). Sexual offenders, offence paralleling behaviour and how it relates to risk. Forensic Update, 105, 17-24.
Mandikate, P., & Akerman, G. (2012) Can Convicted Offenders Be Classed as ‘Volunteering’ for Therapy? Working with Men who Have Committed Sexual Offences and Volunteered for Treatment in a Prison-based Therapeutic Community Sexual Offender Treatment, 7, 2, online issue http://www.sexual-offender-treatment.org/112.html.
Bonnett, S., Akerman, G., & M.T. (2014). One intervention for ex-service personnel in custody: The Veterans group at HMP Grendon. Forensic Update, 115, 34-39.
Hatton, V. & Akerman, G. (2016). Working with suicide risk in offenders: A review of training at HMP Grendon. Journal of Criminal Psychology.
Akerman, G., & Geraghty, K.A. (2016). An exploration of clients’ experiences of group therapy, Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 37, 101 – 108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/TC-12-2015-0026
Akerman, G. (2021). Providing Treatment in a Prison-Based Therapeutic Community for Those Who Have Committed Sexual Offences. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 65 (12), 1267–1281. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X17752275
Akerman, G. (2018) Gangs and groups at HMP Grendon and the impact on the therapeutic process. Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 39, 50-58, https://doi.org/10.1108/TC-09-2017-0025
Akerman, G., Arthur, C., & Levi, H. (2018). A qualitative study of imprisoned fathers: separation and the impact on relationships with their children. Prison Service Journal, 238. 16-27.
Akerman, G. (2018). ‘I am not my offence’: The importance of how we refer to service users. Forensic Update, 129, 5-9.
Akerman. G., & Brown, C. (2020). ‘No one told me about Circles’: Perspectives of Circles of Support and Accountability and Perceived Support to Prevent Sexual Reoffending. Prison Service Journal, 251, 19-31.
Harper, C.A., Lievesley, R.,Blagden, N., Akerman, G., Winder, B., & Baumgartner, E. (2020) Development and validation of the Good Lives Questionnaire. Psychology Crime and Law. 27, 678-703.
Akerman, G., Jones, E., Talbot, H., & Grahame-Wright, G. (2020). Social Distancing in a social environment. Therapeutic Communities. International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, ISSN 09641866
Kotova, A., & Akerman. G. (2022). Navigating moral dimensions and lateral power – The experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community. Incarceration, 3, 1–17. doi.org/10.1177/26326663221074263
Taylor, J., & Akerman, G. (2022). Compassion focused cultures: Introducing compassion into a democratic therapeutic community. Abuse: An International Impact Journal, 3(2), 24-45.
McMinn, L.E., Akerman, G., Gaffney, E. (2024). Healing Trauma in a Traumatising Environment with Young Adult Men. Journal of Men’s Mental Health. 20(1), 120-126.
Books
Richard Shuker and Geraldine Akerman (Series Editor). Geraldine Akerman, Adrian Needs and Claire Bainbridge (Eds.) (2018) Transforming environments and rehabilitation. A guide for practitioners in forensic and criminal justice. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-1-315-95912
Richard Shuker and Geraldine Akerman (Series Editor). Geraldine Akerman, Derek Perkins & Ross Bartels (Eds.). Assessing and managing problematic sexual interests. A practitioners guide. Taylor Francis Group.
Richard Shuker and Geraldine Akerman (Series Editors). Geraldine Akerman & Richard Shuker (Eds.) (2022). Global Perspectives on Interventions in Forensic Therapeutic Communities. Taylor Francis Group.
P. Willmott, G. Akerman, L. Jones & A. Mahoney. (in press) Trauma Informed Forensic Interventions. Taylor Francis Group.
Book chapters
Dowdswell, H., Akerman, G., & ‘Lawrence’ (2010). Unlocking offence paralleling behaviour in a custodial setting-A personal perspective from members of staff and a resident in a forensic therapeutic community. In. M. Daffern. L. Jones and J. Shine (Eds). Offence paralleling behaviour (pp. 231-243) Wiley: UK. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470970270.ch14
Akerman G. (2010). Undertaking therapy at HMP Grendon with men who have committed sexual offences. In E. Sullivan and R. Shuker (Eds.), Grendon and the emergence of forensic therapeutic communities: Developments in research and practice. (pp 171-182). Wiley. UK. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470661444.ch10
Akerman G. & Beech, A.R. (2013). Exploring Offence Paralleling Behaviours in Incarcerated Offenders. In J. Fahrmann & S. Baier (Eds.) Prisons and Prison Systems: Practices, Types and Challenges (1-24) USA: Nova Publishers.
Akerman, G., Craig, L.A., Beech, A.R. (2014). Treating Child Sex Abusers: A Person Centred Approach. In Case Studies in Sex Offender Treatment (Eds. Wilcox, Garrett & Harkins). (pp. 65-84). Wiley: Blackell: UK
Akerman, G. (2017). Communal living as the agent of change. In D. P. Polaschek, A. Day, and C. Hollin (Eds.). The Wiley International Handbook of Psychology and Corrections. New York: John Wiley & Sons
Akerman, G. & Mandikate, P. (2018) Creating a Therapeutic Community from scratch: Where do we start? In Richard Shuker and Geraldine Akerman (Series Editor). Geraldine Akerman, Adrian Needs and Claire Bainbridge (Eds.) (in preparation) Transforming environments, transforming lives: Understanding and harnessing contextual factors in the rehabilitation of offenders. Taylor & Francis Group.
Akerman, G. (2019). Communal living as the agent of change. In D. Polaschek, A.Day & C.Hollin (Eds.). (Chapter 37, pp590-602) The Wiley International Handbook of Correctional Psychology. Wiley Blackwell: New Jersey USA.
Akerman, G., & Jamieson, S. (2020). Working in therapy with men who have committed a sexual offence and have learning difficulties. In K.Hocken, R. Lievesley, B. Winder, H. Swaby, N. Blagden, N. Banyard (Eds) Sexual Crime and Intellectual Functioning. Palgrave Macmillan.
Taylor, J., Akerman, G., & Hocken, K. (2021) Cultivating Compassion Focussed Practice for those who have committed sexual offences. In K. Hocken et al (Eds) Sexual Crime and Trauma. Palgrave Macmillan.
Akerman, G. (in press). Developing a fantasy modification programme in a democratic therapeutic community at HMP Grendon. In B. Winder et al (Eds). Forensic Interventions. Palgrave Macmillan.
Akerman, G., & Andrews, T. (2021). Abuse, offending, and addressing this in therapy: A staff and service user’s perspective on the journey to self-acceptance and a crime-free life. In K. Hocken et al (Eds) Sexual Crime and Trauma. Palgrave Macmillan.
Akerman, G., & Joshua, N. (2022). Working with Compassion in a Prison-Based Democratic Therapeutic Community. In Trauma-Informed Forensic Practice.
Akerman, G., & Smith, E. (2023).One more step along the road to freedom. In J. Shingler & J. Stickney (Eds). Out for Good: Developing identity, meaning and belonging with men on their journey between prison and the community. (pp3-23). Routledge.
Akerman, G. (2024). Integration of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in a prison based therapeutic community. In M. Siglag Innovative treatment approaches in forensic and correctional settings. ISBN: 9781032420387.
Akerman, G., Jones, E., Dachary, D., & Major, L. (2024). The Voice of Dual Status. In B Winder, K. Hocken, et al., (editors) Sexual Crime. Victims and survivors. (147-168) Palgrave McMillan.
Barker, R., & Akerman, G. Working with traumatised teams. In P. Willmott, G. Akerman, L. Jones & A. Mahoney. (in press) Trauma Informed Forensic Interventions. Taylor Francis Group.
Loban, O., & Akerman, G. (2025) Reforming Prison: Bridging the Gap Between Stated Rehabilitation Goals and Reality. In Dr Andreas Aresti and Dr Sacha Darke (Eds). Insider Prison Perspectives in Europe and the Americas: Convict Criminology at Westminster.
Akerman, G. (in prep). Clinical Psychology. In V. Bhavsar, H. Ryland & D. Bhugra (Eds). 2nd edition of Handbook for Psychiatric Trainees. Cambridge University Press.
Presentations
Akerman, G & Tew, J. (2006) Treatment Within a Prison Therapeutic Community. Paper presented at International Association for Forensic psychotherapy 15th International Conference, Revenge, Justice or Treatment? 30th March 2006. Forensic Psychotherapy and the Criminal Law, HMP Grendon
Akerman, G & Tew, J. (2006) What do we know about measuring change in men who have committed sexual offences, and what are we missing? Paper presented at National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers,20th September 2006. University of York.
Akerman G. Developing a fantasy-modification programme in a democratic community at HMP Grendon. Paper presented at Annual Division of Forensic Psychology Conference: University of Edinburgh. 2008
Akerman, G. Theories of sexual offending and treatment in custody. (2008). Child Abuse and Sex Offenders Seminar. West Midlands Police Continual Professional Development Day. Birmingham City University 17.09.09
Akerman, G. (2011). Offence Paralleling behaviour and a custodial good life at HMP Grendon. Paper presented at the 20th Annual DFP conference. University of Portsmouth. 22nd-24th June 2011.
Akerman, G. (2011). Sexual offenders and offence-paralleling behaviour. Paper presented at the 20th Annual DFP conference. University of Portsmouth. 22nd-24th June 2011.
Akerman, G. (2011). A fantasy modification programme developed to run in a democratic therapeutic community. Paper presented at the Sexual Violence Conference University of Middlesex. 8th September 2011.
Akerman, G. (2012). Sexual offenders, offence paralleling behaviour and how it relates to risk. Forensic Update, 105, 17-24.
Akerman, G. (2012). Sexual offence paralleling behaviour in secure conditions and how it relates to risk. Paper presented at the 21st Annual DFP conference Cardiff Metropolitan University 26-28th June 2012
Akerman, G. (2012). The Development of the Current Sexual Interest Measure. Paper presented at the 21st Annual DFP conference Cardiff Metropolitan University 26-28th June 2012.
Akerman, G. (2012). The Development of the Current Sexual Interest Measure. Paper presented at the 12th Conference of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO) September 5-8th, 2012 Charité University Berlin.
Akerman, G. (2012). The Development of the Current Sexual Interest Measure. Paper presented at 21st Annual DFP conference Cardiff Metropolitan University 26-28th June 2012 and 12th Conference of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO) September 5-8th, 2012 Charité University Berlin
Mandikate, P. & Akerman, G. (2012). Can Convicted Offenders Be Classed as ‘Volunteering’ for Therapy? Working with Men who Have Committed Sexual Offences and Volunteered for Treatment in a Prison-based Therapeutic Community. Paper presented at 12th Conference of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO) September 5-8th, 2012 Charité University Berlin
Akerman, G. (2013). Developing Resilience PIPEs conference, Leeds Thursday 24th January.
Akerman, G. (2013). An overview of the treatment for serious offenders in a prison-based Therapeutic Community. ‘Keeping Risk in Mind’. Pan London Forensic psychotherapy Academic Programme Friday 25th January 2012
Mandikate, P., Akerman. G. & Coucill, J. (2014). Gangs in groups: Working in a therapeutic community to prevent the compulsion to repeat past behaviour. Groups and Gangs Conference. Tavistock Centre. Friday 14th March.
Akerman, G. (2014). Identifying, measuring, and managing sexual offence paralleling behavior for men in custody. Paper presented at International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research Conference. Therapy in forensic settings: practices and challenges. The Open University Milton Keynes 2nd and 3rd June 2014.
Akerman, G. (2015). Principals of therapeutic environments and facilitating change. Paper presented at the Division of Forensic Psychology annual conference. Manchester Metropolitan University 1-3rd July 2015.
Akerman, G. (2015). Sexual fantasies, modifying sexual interest and offence paralleling behaviour 21st and 22nd September 2015 University of Bonn
Akerman, G. & Geraghty, K. (2015). Tolerating the intolerable: Working with transference and counter transference to toxic material in a prison-based therapeutic community. Paper presented at the Division of Forensic Psychology annual conference. Manchester Metropolitan University 1-3rd July 2015 and at Community of Communities 14th Annual Forum 17th May 2016 Royal College of Psychiatry.
Akerman, G., & Needs, A. (2015). Principles of therapeutic environments and facilitating change. Paper presented at the Division of Forensic Psychology annual conference. Manchester Metropolitan University 1-3rd July 2015.
Akerman, G. (2016). Developing the method of evaluation of a Fantasy Modification Programme. Paper presented at the 25th Division of Forensic psychology Conference 14-16th June 2016. Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.
Working with high risk offenders: Treatment and reintegration. The Impact of Austerity on the Role of Sex Offender Reintegration and Community Engagement. University of Western England 20th April 2016. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18417.28005
Akerman, G. & Needs, A. (2016). Principals of therapeutic environments and facilitating change. Paper presented at International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders Conference September 7-10th, 2016 at Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Akerman, G. & Geraghty, K. (2015). Tolerating the intolerable: Working with transference and counter transference to toxic material in a prison-based therapeutic community. Paper presented at International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders Conference September 7-10th, 2016 at Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Akerman, G. (2016). “We’re in a group, not a gang”: How does having been in a gang impact on being in a group? Presented at 26th Division of Forensic psychology Conference, 13-15th June 2017, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel.
Geraghty, K.A. & Akerman, G. (2017). ‘Changing the Game ’: An evaluation of a pilot intervention for former gang members engaged in group therapy. Presented at 26th Division of Forensic psychology Conference, 13-15th June 2017, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel
Akerman, G. (2017). Group members working in groups in a therapeutic community. ATSA 36th Annual research and treatment conference. October 25th-28th October Sheraton Kansas City Hotel Kansas Missouri. USA
Akerman, G. (2018). Why can’t I come home and be dad? The impact of imprisonment on a father. 27th DFP Conference June 20th-22nd 2018. Hilton Gateshead Newcastle
Akerman, G. Engaging in therapy in a prison-based therapeutic community with those who have committed sexual offences. New Directions in Sex Offender Practice. University of Birmingham April 8th-9th 2019
Akerman, G. (2019) Trauma informed care in custody. Whatton Conference Moving from striving to striving: Inside out the rehabilitation journey” HMP Whatton June 12th 2019.
Akerman, G. (2019). I don’t want to talk about it. Discussing experiencing sexual abuse and perpetrating sexual assault in treatment. 28th Annual DFP Conference Liverpool 18th-20th June 2019.
Harper, C. A., Blagden, N., Lievesley, R., Akerman, G., Winder, B., & Baumgartner, E. (2019, June). Development and validation of a psychometric measure of primary human goods. Paper presented at the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference. Liverpool, UK.
Akerman, G & Bird, L. (2019). The difficulties in assessing for suitability and of integrating offences in a prison-based DTC Enhanced Assessment and Induction Unit HMP Grendon. Keynote Address. Creating Therapeutic relationships: Intimacy, Inclusion, and Intelligent Kindness. The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities Cumberland Lodge International Windsor Conference November 11-13th 2019.
Akerman, G., Jones, E., Talbot, H., Grahame-Wright, G. (2020). Social distancing in a social therapy environment. Therapeutic Communities. The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, Doi.10.1108/TC-05-2020-0009
Kotova, A., & Akerman, G. (2022). Navigating lateral power and re-balancing power inequalities – the experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community. Incarceration, i3,1-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/26326663221074263.
Akerman, G., & Kotova, A. (2022). Navigating lateral power and re-balancing power inequalities – the experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community. Presented at TCTC Research and Development Seminar 21st February 2022. Therapeutic Communities-Coercion or Devolved Authority?
Akerman, G & OL (2023). Reforming Prison: Addressing the discrepancies of a rehabilitative ideal. Insider Prison Perspectives in Europe and the Americas 29th June 2023
Akerman, G. (2023). Transitions between forensic settings: “because I’m back in mainstream prison, I’m a different kind of person with a different head on”. DFP annual conference November 8-10th 2023 Belfast.
Akerman, G. (2024). Community Interventions for People with Sexual Offence histories. New Directions in the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse Conference Two Day Conference 15th & 16th April 2024 Birmingham University.
Jones, E., & Akerman, G. (2024). Developing a trauma informed workplace. Presented at Developing professional and policy understandings of the role of Epi crime in preventing and responding to sexual abuse. University of West of England. 28.6.24. DOI: 10.1314/RG2.2.30048.7-400
Akerman, G., & OL. (2024). Addressing Trauma Through Narrative Exposure Therapy. Invited symposium: Interventions in secure settings. Division of Forensic Psychology Annual conference. Cardiff Principality Stadium 1-3rd July 2024
Akerman, G., & OL (2024). ‘Gotta be bonkers or mad’: The challenges of identifying and addressing mental health difficulties and psychiatric illnesses among men in prison. Invited Symposium Pathways to and from offending behaviour at 33rd International Congress of Psychology July 21-26th 2024 Prague Czech Republic
Akerman., G. (2025). Taking care of staff in forensic settings. Cardiff Metropolitan University. Forensic Psychology Practitioner Research Conference. 29th May 2025
Akerman. G. (2025). Developing a trauma informed work force in forensic settings. 2nd International Meeting Trauma Needs in Secure Care Settings. Integrating risk, trauma responsive and ethical frameworks. Online conference 10th June 2025.
Akerman, G & Barker, R. (2025). Trauma and Recovery: Working in traumatised staff teams. DFP Conference 1-3rd July 2025 Glasgow
Posters
Akerman, G. (2011). A systematic review of measures of deviant sexual arousal and interest. 20th Annual DFP conference. University of Portsmouth. and Sexual Violence Conference University of Middlesex. 8th September 2011.
Akerman, G. (2023). Trauma Informed Care in custody. Psychological Professions Conference. Kassam Stadium. 10.13140/RG.2.2.15373.51687
Need to find someone else? Visit our Staff Finder