Amy Lawrence

Background

About Amy Lawrence

I have been delivering (both therapeutic and didactic) rehabilitation programs within New Zealand prisons for the last five years, providing me with timely and specific insights regarding the current gaps and development needs within research, health, and rehabilitation services. I have a particularly strong passion for improving outcomes for Indigenous peoples, ensuring culturally appropriate interventions. My specific experience in both group and individual work include delivering CBT, DBT, and human existential therapies as well as motivational interviewing, micro-skills, and role plays. I also have experience developing and tailoring programmes to fit remote learning during COVID-19 lockdowns. As a result of mentoring and training new criminogenic rehabilitation practitioners and working closely with relevant stakeholders, I value other specialist expertise, and capitalize on and encourage the development of the expert knowledge and skills of others. I recently completed a mixed methodology PhD in Psychology at the University of Auckland in August 2022, where I investigated public attitudes surrounding people with a sexual interest in children and the levels of support for a preventative service. My research consisted of a systematic review, and four studies examining two data sets. This novel and innovative Australisian research enabaled a new strategic approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse. As such, by better understanding public attitudes, I was able to critically explore how they can best be challenged and influenced and better design outreach programs within Australasia. I personally designed and developed antistigmatization preventative interventions. They presented information of behavioural choice and controllability, that challenge the current societal narratives of shame and punishment, which contribute to dehumanization, secrecy, and an environment for potential offending. My research has assisted in understanding and addressing public stigma, making it easier for individuals to access sexual harm services, which ultimately means fewer people offending and coming into the care of corrective services. Openly and ethically navigating and managing public perceptions regarding this emotive and complicated topic required persistence and tenacity which ultimately enabled the development of personal strength, growth, and reflective practice. My research has been published in prestigious international journals, where I have made empirically informed implications for future research and policy development.