Dr Rachel Worthington
Dr Rachel Worthington BSc (Hons), MSc (Forensic), PhD, MEd (Autism), PGCert (ADHD), PGCert (DBT)
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
I am Forensic Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience of working with clients in prisons, secure psychiatric hospitals and in the community. I am trained in the assessment and delivery of therapy for adult and adolescent clients (male and female) with neurodiversity, personality difficulties, PTSD and complex PTSD, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and acquired brain injury. I have also undertaken specific training in Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing and have supported both verbal and non-verbal clients. I have published and presented both nationally and internationally on neurodiversity and offending behaviour. My current research is focussed on supporting young people to be safe in the online space and I am a member of the Institute for Children’s Futures.
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Worthington, R. (2023) 'Understanding Adolescent Stalking: Challenging Adult Bias Through a Developmental Lens.' Young People, Stalking Awareness and Domestic Abuse. Springer,
Worthington, R. (2023) 'Understanding Adolescent Stalking: Challenging Adult Bias Through a Developmental Lens.' Young People, Stalking Awareness and Domestic Abuse. pp. 37-67.
Worthington, R. (2022) 'Challenging bias in forensic psychological assessment and treatment for people with adhd.' Challenging Bias in Forensic Psychological Assessment and Testing: Theoretical and Practical Approaches to Working with Diverse Populations. pp. 373-388.
Worthington, R. (2022) 'What support interventions are helpful for families and carers of people with Autism in the criminal justice system?.' Chapter 11 in Tyler, N. & Sheeran, A. (2022). Working with Autistic People in the Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health System: A Handbook for Practitioners. Routledge: London.
Worthington, R. (2020) 'Introducing the Multi-Component Framework of Female Sexual Offending..' Assessing and Managing Problematic Sexual Interests: A Practitioners Guide.
Worthington, R. (2018) 'Treatment Approaches for Sexual Violence.' Violent and sexual offenders: Assessment, treatment and management..
Worthington, R. (2009) 'Treatment Approaches for Sexual Violence.' Violent and Sexual Offenders Assessment, Treatment and Management. Routledge,
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Reports
Worthington, R. Rapid Evidence Assessment on Neurodiversity in Violent Extremism. University of Western Australia and Department of Home Affairs.
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Journal articles
Ihsan-Ghafoor, F., Worthington, R., Coughlin, L. (2024) 'Risk and desistance factors for female acquisitive offending: a systematic review.' Journal of Criminal Psychology, 14(4) pp. 391-410.
Al-Attar, Z., Worthington, R. (2024) 'Trauma or autism? – understanding how the effects of trauma and disrupted attachment can be mistaken for autism.' Advances in Autism, 10(3) pp. 120-134.
Al-Attar, Z., Worthington, R. (2024) 'Moral distress and moral injury in the context of autism.' Advances in Autism, 10(3) pp. 200-219.
Griffin, A., Worthington, R. (2024) 'To stay silent or to blow the whistle? Bystander’s intervening acts when witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV).' Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research,
Baciu, A., Worthington, R. (2024) 'Is there a link between neurodiversity and stalking? a systematic review.' Journal of Forensic Practice,
Worthington, R., Wheeler, S. (2023) 'Hyperfocus and offending behaviour: a systematic review.' Journal of Forensic Practice, 25(3) pp. 185-200.
Haase, R., Worthington, R. (2023) '“Influencers” – a study investigating the messages people receive about coercive control on social media.' Journal of Forensic Practice, 25(3) pp. 287-303.
Henrich, S., Worthington, R. (2023) 'Let Your Clients Fight Dragons: A Rapid Evidence Assessment regarding the Therapeutic Utility of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’.' Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 18(3) pp. 383-401.
Worthington, R. (2023) 'Using Mindfulness and a Resiliency Based Pedagogy to protect Forensic Psychology students from Secondary Trauma in teaching.' Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 5(1).,
Worthington, R., Bennett, A. (2023) 'Improving access to forensic psychology education and training for learners with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).' Forensic Update, 1(144) pp. 32-39.
Dale, F., Smyth, M., Worthington, R. (2023) 'Characteristics of Technology Assisted Adolescent Dating Abuse (TAADA) perpetrators: A Rapid Evidence Assessment.' Abuse: An International Impact Journal, 4(1) pp. 104-123.
Himsworth, S., Worthington, R. (2023) 'A pandemic within a pandemic: The investigation of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) victimisation risk factors and stay/leave decisions during the UK COVID-19 lockdown.' Abuse: An International Impact Journal, 4(1) pp. 49-67.
Boland, L., Worthington, R. (2023) '‘Catfishes: How do they reel us in?’ Exploring adolescent vulnerabilities to online grooming.' Forensic Update, 1(143) pp. 12-22.
Wakeman, B., Worthington, R. (2022) 'Evaluating perceptions of sexual coercion: the role of personality, gender, and motive in birth control sabotage.' Journal of Sexual Aggression, 28(3) pp. 296-315.
Worthington, R., Rossetti, S. (2021) 'Attitudes towards offenders with intellectual disability.' Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 7(2) pp. 93-111.
Worthington, R., Shaw, K. (2020) 'Understanding Females who engage in Stalking Behaviour.' Forensic Update,
Worthington, R. (2020) 'A comparative analysis of the functions of harmful sexual behaviours (HSB) between hearing and non-hearing adults: implications for assessment and treatment.' Abuse: An International Impact Journal, 1(1) pp. 29-48.
Worthington, R. (2019) 'The multi-component model of harmful sexual behaviour for people with autism and co-morbid intellectual disabilities – a theory and practice guide.' Journal of Forensic Practice, 21(1) pp. 1-13.
Worthington, R., Hannaby, J. (2018) 'Psychologically Informed Environments for Adults with Autism.' Forensic Update,
Worthington, R., Patterson, C., Halder, N. (2018) 'Working with intellectually disabled autistic individuals – a qualitative study using repertory grids.' Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 9(1) pp. 22-31.
Worthington, R. (2016) 'What are the key skills that staff require to support adults on the autism spectrum effectively?.' Forensic Update,
Worthington, R. (2016) 'Applying the concept of reciprocal roles to relapse prevention with offenders: a cognitive analytic therapy informed approach.' Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 2(1) pp. 67-79.
Johnson, H., Worthington, R., Gredecki, N., Wilks-Riley, F.R. (2016) 'The relationship between trust in work colleagues, impact of boundary violations and burnout among staff within a forensic psychiatric service.' Journal of Forensic Practice, 18(1) pp. 64-75.
Johnson, H., Worthington, R., Gredecki, N., Wilks-Riley, F.R. (2016) 'The impact of forensic work on home life: the role of emotional labour, segmentation/integration and social support.' Journal of Forensic Practice, 18(1) pp. 52-63.
Worthington, R. (2015) 'Psychopathy, Personality Disorder and Sexual Offending - Addressing Personality Disordered Schema, Therapy Interfering Behaviours and Risk through an Integrated Human Needs Based Treatment for reducing risk of sexual offending.' Forensic Update,
Worthington, R. (2015) 'Trauma Informed Additional – Programme.' Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 1(1) pp. 37-50.
Worthington, R. (2012) 'Prison organisational climate: Exploring the impact of climate on emotional well being.' British Journal of Forensic Practice, 14(3) pp. 192-203.
Worthington, R. (2012) 'Dealing with trauma as an intervention for aggression: A review of approaches and the value of reprocessing.' Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 4(2) pp. 108-118.
Worthington, R., Cormack, E. (2011) '‘Different strokes for different folks’: The development and evaluation of a staff training package for working with prisoners.' Forensic Update, 1(103) pp. 21-33.
Worthington, R. (2006) 'Motivating Sexual offenders to engage in treatment..' Forensic Update, 85 (20-26),