Clinical relationships with forensic clients: A three-dimensional model

• The clinical relationship with mandatory treatment clients is challenging.
• The challenge is ethical, professional, and impacts on the type of treatment offered.
• Therapists' behavior is influenced by the narratives they adhere to in treatment.
• Therapists deal with victims', offenders' and Justice's narratives.
• A Tridimensional Model for mandatory treatment increases therapists' awareness.

This paper considers the clinical relationship with clients in mandatory treatment. In several countries, clients found guilty of committing a sexual or violent offense (often resulting in a jail sentence) are obliged by law to meet a psychotherapist. This mandatory treatment occurs both during the time in jail and in the community. The clinical relationship with these clients is a complex process involving the therapist, the client, and the courts. In this paper we describe some common factors that can facilitate or hinder the therapist's work in this situation.