Overview

Karen Gough is a Registered Clinical and Forensic Psychologist holding degrees of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology (1990) and Doctor in Clinical Psychology (1998).  She has worked within forensic mental health services for twenty-five years providing specialist assessments and interventions for mentally disordered offenders within a secure NHS hospital and in the community. From 2008 – 2021, she worked in the NHS as a Consultant Psychologist, and led a Community Forensic Mental Health Team. This was a large team covering many forensic services including Liaison & Diversion, Offender Personality Disorder Service, an IIRMS, and a service for children & young people having first contact with the CJS. She is currently Head of Psychology in an independent secure hospital. Since 1999, Karen has provided expert witness services for civil, family, and criminal Court proceedings, mental health review tribunals and parole board hearings. She is an expert witness specialising in assessing risk of sexual or violent behaviour, including domestic violence, in addition to psychological assessment of mental state; personality disorder; complex trauma; substance misuse, and intellectual and neuropsychological functioning.  Since 2012, Karen has been an Approved Clinician with powers under the Mental Health Act.

Karen has a strong interest in working with trauma and people described as having a personality disorder. This maps onto a therapeutic specialism within the EMDR and schema focused models. Furthermore, she has a particular interest in working with the military and veterans who have mental health problems. She has a proven track record in leadership, developing staff, and service innovation.

Qualifications

• 2004               Chartered Forensic Psychologist (BPS)
• 1998               Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (University College London)
• 1990               BSc Psychology (Hons) (Plymouth)

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