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Inside Job: Treating Murderers and Sex Offenders. The Life of a Prison Psychologist.
And here I am. Totally alone in a cell with a convicted sex offender who is free to do what he wants. There is no officer. No handcuffs. No radio. Only the man across the desk and me. He looks more petrified than I do.
HMP Graymoor. One of the UK’s most notorious prisons. Home to nearly 800 murderers, rapists and child molesters.
Reporting for her first shift inside is Rebecca: twenty-two, newly graduated – and about to sit down with some of the country’s most dangerous criminals.
In this gripping, hard-hitting memoir, forensic psychologist Dr Rebecca Myers revisits her time in the ‘Hot Seat’ with Graymoor’s infamous inmates – who might not be as different to us as we think.
This is as close as we can get to knowing what really goes on inside the damaged minds behinds bars.
HMP Graymoor. One of the UK’s most notorious prisons. Home to nearly 800 murderers, rapists and child molesters.
Reporting for her first shift inside is Rebecca: twenty-two, newly graduated – and about to sit down with some of the country’s most dangerous criminals.
In this gripping, hard-hitting memoir, forensic psychologist Dr Rebecca Myers revisits her time in the ‘Hot Seat’ with Graymoor’s infamous inmates – who might not be as different to us as we think.
This is as close as we can get to knowing what really goes on inside the damaged minds behinds bars.
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October 15, 2022Update 2 One thing that seemed to be common to the men who were all rapists, some of children, and violent, and some were murderers, was that they felt men should have power and if other men didn't respect it and women didn't either, they couldn't do anything about the men but women could be controlled. Lnives, guns, ropes, threats, violence, abuse etcand then they, those 'bitches' would know who was the man and who had by 'virtue' of being born a man been given the power. This seems to me to be something that needs addressing in society and schools. Not by taking away power but by showing that the nature of power is not that of control but the ability of self-determination.
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Update A very unusual book. Imagine discovering that your life's work, brilliantly recreated in the book, was actually totally useless? Statistically all the therapy groups for sex offenders and sex murderers were more likely to produce recidivists? But the author still wrote the book of her endeavours. Just amazing. Proper review to come!
__________
The author is running a therapy group, described are four of the men - a policemen who raped and murdered a woman, a man who molested and killed a child, a serial rapist and a man who got off on rape and murder - a psychopath. Or perhaps all of them are. Are they really there so that they can understand why they did what they did so they won't do it again? Or because it passes the long, boring days of prison? Or because it will look good when they go before a parole board? Well, the psychopath won't be doing that, he has a whole life term.
I can't imagine being with those men as a psychologist, let alone a pretty, shapely 22 year old. Ordinary men with their wolf whistles, their frank, sexually-appraising glances and subsequent smug smiles, their eyes caressing curves whilst they speak in a business-like way in the office, all these men can be intimidating, all these men are inappropriate when they think they are being complimentary and we should be flattered. But we can deal with them even if we'd rather they just left it out. But alone in a room with four sex-starved men, sex offenders all, three of them murderers? How do you deal with that? It seems madness, and must have taken a lot of courage.
__________
Update A very unusual book. Imagine discovering that your life's work, brilliantly recreated in the book, was actually totally useless? Statistically all the therapy groups for sex offenders and sex murderers were more likely to produce recidivists? But the author still wrote the book of her endeavours. Just amazing. Proper review to come!
__________
The author is running a therapy group, described are four of the men - a policemen who raped and murdered a woman, a man who molested and killed a child, a serial rapist and a man who got off on rape and murder - a psychopath. Or perhaps all of them are. Are they really there so that they can understand why they did what they did so they won't do it again? Or because it passes the long, boring days of prison? Or because it will look good when they go before a parole board? Well, the psychopath won't be doing that, he has a whole life term.
I can't imagine being with those men as a psychologist, let alone a pretty, shapely 22 year old. Ordinary men with their wolf whistles, their frank, sexually-appraising glances and subsequent smug smiles, their eyes caressing curves whilst they speak in a business-like way in the office, all these men can be intimidating, all these men are inappropriate when they think they are being complimentary and we should be flattered. But we can deal with them even if we'd rather they just left it out. But alone in a room with four sex-starved men, sex offenders all, three of them murderers? How do you deal with that? It seems madness, and must have taken a lot of courage.
September 3, 2022
5 ⭐️
Wow, what a difficult read. Every year I like to challenge myself with a book that stretches my comfort zone. The true stories within this book were hard to read and comprehend, however what an insightful book. The treatment of murderer’s and rapist’s was never going to be easy. I did not expect this level of honesty that shows the complete depravity of some men, however it was dealt with in a mature manner. The ending is thought provoking about how abuse turns into abuse and how do we prevent this from happening and remember the child that was abused. I take my hat off to the author, her path is not an easy one yet she displays honesty and a level of commitment to rehabilitation. This is a book I Will remember as difficult but an important conversation within our society.
Wow, what a difficult read. Every year I like to challenge myself with a book that stretches my comfort zone. The true stories within this book were hard to read and comprehend, however what an insightful book. The treatment of murderer’s and rapist’s was never going to be easy. I did not expect this level of honesty that shows the complete depravity of some men, however it was dealt with in a mature manner. The ending is thought provoking about how abuse turns into abuse and how do we prevent this from happening and remember the child that was abused. I take my hat off to the author, her path is not an easy one yet she displays honesty and a level of commitment to rehabilitation. This is a book I Will remember as difficult but an important conversation within our society.
August 19, 2022
HMP Graymoor. One of the UK's most notorious prisons. Home to nearly eight hundred murders, rapists and child molesters. Reporting for her first shift inside is Rebecca: twenty two, newly graduated - and about to sit down with some of the country's most dangerous criminals.
This non fiction book gives us an insight of what it can be like on the other side of the bars. It covers some seriously disturbing cases. Dr Rebecca Myers was just twenty two when she started working as a psychologist in a man's prison. The crimes some of these men committed were horrendous. It's not always easy to read, but it's interesting. This is a gripping memoir that's not for the faint hearted.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUKNonfiction #HarperElement and the author #DrRebeccaMyers for my ARC of #InsideJob in exchange for an honest review.
This non fiction book gives us an insight of what it can be like on the other side of the bars. It covers some seriously disturbing cases. Dr Rebecca Myers was just twenty two when she started working as a psychologist in a man's prison. The crimes some of these men committed were horrendous. It's not always easy to read, but it's interesting. This is a gripping memoir that's not for the faint hearted.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUKNonfiction #HarperElement and the author #DrRebeccaMyers for my ARC of #InsideJob in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2022
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall Rating: 4*
Writing : 5*
Information : 4*
Uniqueness : 3*
I've read a few true crime non-fics recently and this has topped them all. It was pretty graphic in explaining their crimes, but you got to learn about the people behind the crimes too. Any of their heinous crimes could be basis for a thriller novel.
Myers also included a lot about about her personal life which added to the overall enjoyment. I'm going to recommend this to all true crime enthusiasts but I will add that there are a lot of trigger warning associated with this book.
Overall Rating: 4*
Writing : 5*
Information : 4*
Uniqueness : 3*
I've read a few true crime non-fics recently and this has topped them all. It was pretty graphic in explaining their crimes, but you got to learn about the people behind the crimes too. Any of their heinous crimes could be basis for a thriller novel.
Myers also included a lot about about her personal life which added to the overall enjoyment. I'm going to recommend this to all true crime enthusiasts but I will add that there are a lot of trigger warning associated with this book.
August 8, 2022
‘Inside Job’ is a fascinating read for anybody interested in the academics of psychology - Dr. Rebecca Myers describes her lifes work as a psychologist in one of Britain’s top psychiatric prisons, where those deemed too mentally unwell are sent after committing some of the most horrific crimes.
It was interesting and it was educational - it took you through the implementation of the sex offender rehabilitation program, and how taxing it is on those who carry out. It was well written for somebody who is not an author by trade and tackled with the appropriate level of sensitivity for such graphic and hard hitting topics.
~
My one criticism is not with the content of this book but its marketing.
It needs to be made clearer that this is an incredibly graphic and disturbing read - going into detail about each of the man’s crimes. I understand the requirement from an academic perspective BUT this is not made clear in any synopsis I can find online, you do not want somebody who is triggered by mentions of sexual assault including pedophilia to be reading this.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
It was interesting and it was educational - it took you through the implementation of the sex offender rehabilitation program, and how taxing it is on those who carry out. It was well written for somebody who is not an author by trade and tackled with the appropriate level of sensitivity for such graphic and hard hitting topics.
~
My one criticism is not with the content of this book but its marketing.
It needs to be made clearer that this is an incredibly graphic and disturbing read - going into detail about each of the man’s crimes. I understand the requirement from an academic perspective BUT this is not made clear in any synopsis I can find online, you do not want somebody who is triggered by mentions of sexual assault including pedophilia to be reading this.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
August 7, 2022
This book makes for a fascinating read.
Dr Rebecca Myers was just 22 when she entered a men's prison as one of the few female members of staff in the 1990s. She was there to implement a programme for prisoners who had committed sexual crimes with the aim being to lower the rate of reoffending.
In order to give real insight into her work we follow her through the various steps of the programme with her first group of men. Unlike so many books written by professionals within the police or prison service, the author's internal monologue focusses on those aspects that didn't go so well. She treats us to some self-analysis as well as being very open about her own background, and mistakes in her personal life.
This is a dark read, some of the participants of the group's crimes were truly horrific. Despite being a keen reader of crime fiction as well as some true crime, these more anonymous tales of deviancy have made a real impact , perhaps because, like the author, the back stories of some of the men were truly horrific.
A truly insightful book which I'd highly recommend to those who are prepared to peek behind the cell doors.
Dr Rebecca Myers was just 22 when she entered a men's prison as one of the few female members of staff in the 1990s. She was there to implement a programme for prisoners who had committed sexual crimes with the aim being to lower the rate of reoffending.
In order to give real insight into her work we follow her through the various steps of the programme with her first group of men. Unlike so many books written by professionals within the police or prison service, the author's internal monologue focusses on those aspects that didn't go so well. She treats us to some self-analysis as well as being very open about her own background, and mistakes in her personal life.
This is a dark read, some of the participants of the group's crimes were truly horrific. Despite being a keen reader of crime fiction as well as some true crime, these more anonymous tales of deviancy have made a real impact , perhaps because, like the author, the back stories of some of the men were truly horrific.
A truly insightful book which I'd highly recommend to those who are prepared to peek behind the cell doors.
September 7, 2022
What a read!
This really appealed to the psychologist within me. It’s a subject I’ve been passionate about since I was 16 and have my degree in. I could never gave a done a job like Rebecca but I truly enjoyed the insight she provided throughout this book.
From her expansive career she has gone into depth about the beginning of her career and how the prisoners she worked with on the sexual offender treatment programme and what a ride! She’s done a great job of making you see these awful criminals in the same way she did whilst going through the SOTP. You can’t help but see them as people separate from their crimes.
This is an incredible insight into some tough work and I commend Rebecca, firstly for doing the work but secondly for putting it so eloquently throughout this book to inform the world about rehabilitating criminals.
I highly recommend.
This really appealed to the psychologist within me. It’s a subject I’ve been passionate about since I was 16 and have my degree in. I could never gave a done a job like Rebecca but I truly enjoyed the insight she provided throughout this book.
From her expansive career she has gone into depth about the beginning of her career and how the prisoners she worked with on the sexual offender treatment programme and what a ride! She’s done a great job of making you see these awful criminals in the same way she did whilst going through the SOTP. You can’t help but see them as people separate from their crimes.
This is an incredible insight into some tough work and I commend Rebecca, firstly for doing the work but secondly for putting it so eloquently throughout this book to inform the world about rehabilitating criminals.
I highly recommend.
January 31, 2025
A solid 3.5⭐️ Really enjoyed listening to a professional perspective and to see what really goes on inside our prisons with the worst of the worst
March 29, 2024
Nie potrafię oprzeć się książkom traktującym o seryjnych mordercach. Umysł przestępcy, który dopuścił się okrutnych zbrodni, fascynuje mnie tak bardzo, że gdyby była taka możliwość, przeczytałabym wszystko w tym temacie.
Książka Rebecci Myers jest czymś w rodzaju pamiętnika, autorka odkrywa przed nami początki swojej trudnej, ale na swój sposób niezwykle intrygującej pracy, jako psycholog w jednym z więzień o zaostrzonym rygorze w Wielkiej Brytanii.
„I oto jestem. Zupełnie sama w celi ze skazanym przestępcą seksualnym, który mógł zrobić, co chce. Nie było żadnego strażnika. Żadnych kajdanek. Nie było krótkofalówki. Byłam tylko ja i ten okropny człowiek po drugiej stronie biurka, który wyglądał na bardziej przerażonego niż ja”.
Rebecca Myers w wieku dwudziestu dwóch lat jako świeżo upieczona absolwentka psychologii trafiła do jednego z najcięższych więzień w Wielkiej Brytanii, gdzie swoje wyroki odsiaduje ponad ośmiuset morderców, seryjnych gwałcicieli i pedofilów. Świadomie podjęła się przewodnictwa w terapii, której celem było zrozumienie, dlaczego więźniowie dopuścili się tak potwornych czynów, co ich do tego skłoniło oraz to, by upewnić się, że nigdy nie powtórzą swoich błędów. Jednak czy możliwe jest wzbudzenie empatii wobec ofiar w mordercy, czy seryjnym gwałcicielu?
„Więzienna terapeutka” to kolejny reportaż dotyczący przestępców, który miałam przyjemność przeczytać. Za każdym razem, kiedy sięgam po takie historie, wiem, że to nie będzie łatwa lektura, wszak informacje w niej zawarte nie są wytworem wyobraźni autora.
Rebecca Myers stworzyła ciekawy pamiętnik, na podstawie własnych doświadczeń odkrywa przed nami tajniki pracy z więźniami. Już na wstępie wspomina, że książka zawiera drastyczne opisy przestępstw i nadużyć seksualnych, więc z pewnością nie jest to lektura dla osób o słabych nerwach. Autorka dość szczegółowo opisuje zbrodnie, gwałty czy też molestowanie dzieci, co wywołuje dość skrajne emocje.
Przyznaję, że pierwsze rozdziały „Więziennej terapeutki” czytało mi się dość opornie, drażniły mnie niektóre, według mnie zbędne opisy dotyczące autorki, jednak z czasem wciągnęłam się w lekturę i finalnie uważam, że jest to dobry reportaż. Autorka nie koloryzuje, przedstawia pracę z więźniami taką, jaka jest w rzeczywistości. Odkrywa przed nami własne doświadczenia, emocje, lęki, i to, jaki wpływ na jej życie miała praca z osadzonymi. Reportaż „Więzienna terapeutka” nie jest obszerną lekturą, śmiało, można przeczytać go w jeden wieczór, tym bardziej że pomimo trudnej tematyki, czyta się lekko i sprawnie.
„Więzienna terapeutka” to lektura obowiązkowa dla osób, których interesuje psychologia, a przede wszystkim umysł przestępcy. Polecam.
Książka Rebecci Myers jest czymś w rodzaju pamiętnika, autorka odkrywa przed nami początki swojej trudnej, ale na swój sposób niezwykle intrygującej pracy, jako psycholog w jednym z więzień o zaostrzonym rygorze w Wielkiej Brytanii.
„I oto jestem. Zupełnie sama w celi ze skazanym przestępcą seksualnym, który mógł zrobić, co chce. Nie było żadnego strażnika. Żadnych kajdanek. Nie było krótkofalówki. Byłam tylko ja i ten okropny człowiek po drugiej stronie biurka, który wyglądał na bardziej przerażonego niż ja”.
Rebecca Myers w wieku dwudziestu dwóch lat jako świeżo upieczona absolwentka psychologii trafiła do jednego z najcięższych więzień w Wielkiej Brytanii, gdzie swoje wyroki odsiaduje ponad ośmiuset morderców, seryjnych gwałcicieli i pedofilów. Świadomie podjęła się przewodnictwa w terapii, której celem było zrozumienie, dlaczego więźniowie dopuścili się tak potwornych czynów, co ich do tego skłoniło oraz to, by upewnić się, że nigdy nie powtórzą swoich błędów. Jednak czy możliwe jest wzbudzenie empatii wobec ofiar w mordercy, czy seryjnym gwałcicielu?
„Więzienna terapeutka” to kolejny reportaż dotyczący przestępców, który miałam przyjemność przeczytać. Za każdym razem, kiedy sięgam po takie historie, wiem, że to nie będzie łatwa lektura, wszak informacje w niej zawarte nie są wytworem wyobraźni autora.
Rebecca Myers stworzyła ciekawy pamiętnik, na podstawie własnych doświadczeń odkrywa przed nami tajniki pracy z więźniami. Już na wstępie wspomina, że książka zawiera drastyczne opisy przestępstw i nadużyć seksualnych, więc z pewnością nie jest to lektura dla osób o słabych nerwach. Autorka dość szczegółowo opisuje zbrodnie, gwałty czy też molestowanie dzieci, co wywołuje dość skrajne emocje.
Przyznaję, że pierwsze rozdziały „Więziennej terapeutki” czytało mi się dość opornie, drażniły mnie niektóre, według mnie zbędne opisy dotyczące autorki, jednak z czasem wciągnęłam się w lekturę i finalnie uważam, że jest to dobry reportaż. Autorka nie koloryzuje, przedstawia pracę z więźniami taką, jaka jest w rzeczywistości. Odkrywa przed nami własne doświadczenia, emocje, lęki, i to, jaki wpływ na jej życie miała praca z osadzonymi. Reportaż „Więzienna terapeutka” nie jest obszerną lekturą, śmiało, można przeczytać go w jeden wieczór, tym bardziej że pomimo trudnej tematyki, czyta się lekko i sprawnie.
„Więzienna terapeutka” to lektura obowiązkowa dla osób, których interesuje psychologia, a przede wszystkim umysł przestępcy. Polecam.
August 18, 2022
EXTRACT: "Society does not want or welcome sexual violence and child abuse, and rightly so. Incarcerated men who have committed sexual offences, especially against children, are seen as the scum of society. My experience has taught me that underneath it all they are not so different from the rest of us.
However, I wouldn't want my compassionate view of the men as being (whatever is) normal, worthwhile and deserving of a second chance to be misinterpreted as sympathy or condoning their actions. It certainly is not. Yet if we can try and treat men who committed sexual offences this way, then we stand a much better chance of success. And so do they. We know that vilifying, stigmatising and ostracising these men does not help. If we shun and isolate them, deny them jobs and a sense of purpose, then the paradox is that they are MORE likely to reoffend...
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of men convicted of sexual offences desist (stop) naturally.
Your new neighbour might be someone who was neglected, sexually abused, mercilessly beaten and made to watch his mother being raped while he was tied to a radiator. And all before the age of ten years old, while his impressionable brain was still growing. I have absolutely no doubt you have rescued him from such a cruel horror as a young child if you could. Damaged children grow up. Now that child is an adult, can you find it in yourself to lay a role in helping him live safely in our society? It is a question we ALL need to be asking ourselves, and with the bigger picture in mind: the prevention of sexual violence."
Just wow! This has to be one of the most powerful books I have ever read. And non-fiction is usually my genre as I tend to fall asleep at the drone of factual text, but INSIDE JOB is presented in such a way we as the reader are drawn in from the start. We are made to feel a part of the programme in which these men are a part. It is eye-opening, raw and traumatic on many levels. These men are the scum of society and yet they are human too. This book takes us inside the Sexual Offenders Treatment Programme that was run throughout the UK prison system with Dr Rebecca Myers facilitating and then training further facilitators. We get to see first-hand how taxing it is for those who run the programme and how it changes their perception of the world around them too.
INSIDE JOB is honest, insightful and even disturbing at times but also challenges the reader in any pre-conceived perceptions they may have. Myers' account of her experience is astute and honest as she freely admits to the mistakes she made, both personally and professionally, in her early years as a prison psychologist at the Category A HMP Graymoor, one of the UK's most notorious prisons. She worked solely with sex offenders and murderers, running the Core-SOTP and Extended SOTP, a CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) rehabilitation programme designed for offenders to recognise their behaviours and those that lead to their offending. The accounts of each of the men in the SOTP groups are harrowing, disturbing but incredibly raw. No one is left untouched by the disturbing darkness that descends of the horrors that then change the way that they see the world outside of the prison walls.
It is interesting to note the struggle that Myers herself was faced with, finding the crimes abhorrent whilst still conducting her job with an unbiased perspective. And that despite their heinous crimes, they are still human beings. Focusing on the SOTP brought these men to the forefront and through Myers' account she was able to humanise most of them as they went through the arduous and often harrowing treatment programme. We then begin to see beyond their offences, as abhorrent as they are, to the men and before that to the children they had once been...not as an excuse but often recognising them as the defining moments in the life of an impressionably aged young child. It definitely pulls at the heartstrings in places though none of what took place before excuses their offences...however, it does lead to an explanation of certain behaviours which are learnt at those impressionable young ages.
As a societal taboo, it is also widely perceived and accepted that these offenders cannot be rehabilitated but the truth is that in many cases they can be. Through SOTP they are given a sense of understanding of their behaviours which lead to their offences and why. Of course, not all offenders can be rehabilitated as they aren't open to the treatment being offered them. In actual fact, some treat it as a joke. Kyle is one point in case. Some make little progress while others come on leaps and bounds. I especially like how Myers focused on a particular group of men that we follow throughout the course of the book and as the reader we watch them unravel the puzzle, draw their life maps and gain an understanding as to their behaviour and the effects it had on their victims. Again, it is raw and insightful.
Throughout the book, Myers shows compassion and humanity and understanding as she develops something akin to a relationship with these men, as well as her wisdom in perceiving the parallels with her own life and how in many ways she saw herself as being like those men she was treating. Her own behavioural patterns were not so far from theirs and she found that both eye-opening and humbling.
Myers concludes her account with reports of the problems the SOTP faced along with its changes and modifications. To cease all types of treatment programmes would be redundant because the overall idea behind prison is for addressing offending behaviour and rehabilitation as well as punishment. To just punish would serve no purpose. INSIDE JOB is an eye opening and insightful read about the often dangerous offenders behind bars and the efforts in trying to change their behaviour and reduce sexual offending.
INSIDE JOB is a fascinating and engrossing read that just blew me away. It is not an easy read by any means, given the subject matter, but it is insightful and informative with achingly honest, raw and reflective. I liked how she ended with the outcome of some of those she encountered at that time, though it is a shame we never learnt the outcome of them all. I would have been interested to see how well, or not, some of those truly fared.
Overall, I highly recommend INSIDE JOB but it not for the faint hearted. Be prepared that this is not a glossed over account. It is in depth, raw and disturbing in places as it is not for everybody. I highlight the fact that it most definitely comes with trigger warnings such as descriptions of rape, murder and child abuse as well as psychopathy, sexual crimes and misogyny.
I would like to thank #DrRebeccaMyers, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #InsideJob in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
However, I wouldn't want my compassionate view of the men as being (whatever is) normal, worthwhile and deserving of a second chance to be misinterpreted as sympathy or condoning their actions. It certainly is not. Yet if we can try and treat men who committed sexual offences this way, then we stand a much better chance of success. And so do they. We know that vilifying, stigmatising and ostracising these men does not help. If we shun and isolate them, deny them jobs and a sense of purpose, then the paradox is that they are MORE likely to reoffend...
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of men convicted of sexual offences desist (stop) naturally.
Your new neighbour might be someone who was neglected, sexually abused, mercilessly beaten and made to watch his mother being raped while he was tied to a radiator. And all before the age of ten years old, while his impressionable brain was still growing. I have absolutely no doubt you have rescued him from such a cruel horror as a young child if you could. Damaged children grow up. Now that child is an adult, can you find it in yourself to lay a role in helping him live safely in our society? It is a question we ALL need to be asking ourselves, and with the bigger picture in mind: the prevention of sexual violence."
Just wow! This has to be one of the most powerful books I have ever read. And non-fiction is usually my genre as I tend to fall asleep at the drone of factual text, but INSIDE JOB is presented in such a way we as the reader are drawn in from the start. We are made to feel a part of the programme in which these men are a part. It is eye-opening, raw and traumatic on many levels. These men are the scum of society and yet they are human too. This book takes us inside the Sexual Offenders Treatment Programme that was run throughout the UK prison system with Dr Rebecca Myers facilitating and then training further facilitators. We get to see first-hand how taxing it is for those who run the programme and how it changes their perception of the world around them too.
INSIDE JOB is honest, insightful and even disturbing at times but also challenges the reader in any pre-conceived perceptions they may have. Myers' account of her experience is astute and honest as she freely admits to the mistakes she made, both personally and professionally, in her early years as a prison psychologist at the Category A HMP Graymoor, one of the UK's most notorious prisons. She worked solely with sex offenders and murderers, running the Core-SOTP and Extended SOTP, a CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) rehabilitation programme designed for offenders to recognise their behaviours and those that lead to their offending. The accounts of each of the men in the SOTP groups are harrowing, disturbing but incredibly raw. No one is left untouched by the disturbing darkness that descends of the horrors that then change the way that they see the world outside of the prison walls.
It is interesting to note the struggle that Myers herself was faced with, finding the crimes abhorrent whilst still conducting her job with an unbiased perspective. And that despite their heinous crimes, they are still human beings. Focusing on the SOTP brought these men to the forefront and through Myers' account she was able to humanise most of them as they went through the arduous and often harrowing treatment programme. We then begin to see beyond their offences, as abhorrent as they are, to the men and before that to the children they had once been...not as an excuse but often recognising them as the defining moments in the life of an impressionably aged young child. It definitely pulls at the heartstrings in places though none of what took place before excuses their offences...however, it does lead to an explanation of certain behaviours which are learnt at those impressionable young ages.
As a societal taboo, it is also widely perceived and accepted that these offenders cannot be rehabilitated but the truth is that in many cases they can be. Through SOTP they are given a sense of understanding of their behaviours which lead to their offences and why. Of course, not all offenders can be rehabilitated as they aren't open to the treatment being offered them. In actual fact, some treat it as a joke. Kyle is one point in case. Some make little progress while others come on leaps and bounds. I especially like how Myers focused on a particular group of men that we follow throughout the course of the book and as the reader we watch them unravel the puzzle, draw their life maps and gain an understanding as to their behaviour and the effects it had on their victims. Again, it is raw and insightful.
Throughout the book, Myers shows compassion and humanity and understanding as she develops something akin to a relationship with these men, as well as her wisdom in perceiving the parallels with her own life and how in many ways she saw herself as being like those men she was treating. Her own behavioural patterns were not so far from theirs and she found that both eye-opening and humbling.
Myers concludes her account with reports of the problems the SOTP faced along with its changes and modifications. To cease all types of treatment programmes would be redundant because the overall idea behind prison is for addressing offending behaviour and rehabilitation as well as punishment. To just punish would serve no purpose. INSIDE JOB is an eye opening and insightful read about the often dangerous offenders behind bars and the efforts in trying to change their behaviour and reduce sexual offending.
INSIDE JOB is a fascinating and engrossing read that just blew me away. It is not an easy read by any means, given the subject matter, but it is insightful and informative with achingly honest, raw and reflective. I liked how she ended with the outcome of some of those she encountered at that time, though it is a shame we never learnt the outcome of them all. I would have been interested to see how well, or not, some of those truly fared.
Overall, I highly recommend INSIDE JOB but it not for the faint hearted. Be prepared that this is not a glossed over account. It is in depth, raw and disturbing in places as it is not for everybody. I highlight the fact that it most definitely comes with trigger warnings such as descriptions of rape, murder and child abuse as well as psychopathy, sexual crimes and misogyny.
I would like to thank #DrRebeccaMyers, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #InsideJob in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 29, 2022
Dr Rebecca Meyers works in HM Prison service and deals with sex offenders, murders and people locked away from society for their crimes. She offers them psychological services and delves into the minds of the inmates.
Upon first reading the book, one might think this would be a sensationalised account of the inmates found but Meyers turns this on its heads. Yes the crimes are put into the focus but she looks at the humans behind the headlines and the crimes to delve into the emotional and psychological make up to give us a true more formalised understanding on the reasoning on why people do what they do.
She deals with the issues sensitively and professionally and gives the reader an easier understanding without going to far into medical jargon making the material more relatable.
Overall, this is an extremely well crafted non fiction book that takes a deeper look at crime and the people who commit those crimes and puts more of a human face onto all that are involved. This works beyond the true crime moniker that it may get stuck with and it is as intriguing as it is informative. A sure fire winner.
Upon first reading the book, one might think this would be a sensationalised account of the inmates found but Meyers turns this on its heads. Yes the crimes are put into the focus but she looks at the humans behind the headlines and the crimes to delve into the emotional and psychological make up to give us a true more formalised understanding on the reasoning on why people do what they do.
She deals with the issues sensitively and professionally and gives the reader an easier understanding without going to far into medical jargon making the material more relatable.
Overall, this is an extremely well crafted non fiction book that takes a deeper look at crime and the people who commit those crimes and puts more of a human face onto all that are involved. This works beyond the true crime moniker that it may get stuck with and it is as intriguing as it is informative. A sure fire winner.
August 22, 2022
An interesting and thought provoking true story of the early start in Dr Rebecca Myers’s career as a psychologist working alongside some of Britain’s most serious sexual offenders. Rebecca and a colleague introduce a group of paeophiles and rapists to a form of rehabilitation and reflection on their crimes. Can a sex offender been reformed and be reintegrated into society and not revert back to their past behaviours. Whilst the subject matter was uncomfortable reading Rebecca works hard to try and change the men’s thought process about the reasons why their crimes were committed, it truly is an insight read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2022
As a Criminogenic Facilitator who works with men and women within the Correctional setting, I was very interested in reading this.
The topic is something that is of interest to me, as I have also worked with child sex offenders. Reading about people that commit such horrendous crimes definitely isn’t for everyone.
Dr Rebecca Myers writes a fascinating look into a job that is vital and emotionally draining. Working in such an intense environment, with such confrontational topics is exhausting and I felt it was important that she communicated this.
One thing that disappointed me was that she showed unprofessional behaviour in terms of hooking up with her co facilitator in the prison.
I get that she was young and that we all do wild stuff at that age, but that crossed so many boundaries to me. If I did something like that whilst working in prison I’d be fired.
I’m saying that, I do acknowledge that the community within the prison at the time was ‘loose’ and different to how it is nowadays, it was just something that concerned me when reading it.
Overall I appreciated Dr Rebecca’s candour and honesty - whilst not being dramatic or overt with her descriptions about the men she worked with.
This is a book I’d read again and I have told many coworkers to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this and to be able to post my honest review.
The topic is something that is of interest to me, as I have also worked with child sex offenders. Reading about people that commit such horrendous crimes definitely isn’t for everyone.
Dr Rebecca Myers writes a fascinating look into a job that is vital and emotionally draining. Working in such an intense environment, with such confrontational topics is exhausting and I felt it was important that she communicated this.
One thing that disappointed me was that she showed unprofessional behaviour in terms of hooking up with her co facilitator in the prison.
I get that she was young and that we all do wild stuff at that age, but that crossed so many boundaries to me. If I did something like that whilst working in prison I’d be fired.
I’m saying that, I do acknowledge that the community within the prison at the time was ‘loose’ and different to how it is nowadays, it was just something that concerned me when reading it.
Overall I appreciated Dr Rebecca’s candour and honesty - whilst not being dramatic or overt with her descriptions about the men she worked with.
This is a book I’d read again and I have told many coworkers to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this and to be able to post my honest review.
December 6, 2022
A thoroughly challenging, graphic depiction of working in a notorious high security prison. Unlike some other books of its kind, this focuses on a particular group of prisoners and their journey as they work through a programme facilitated by the author, a newly qualified psychologist.
There are extremely graphic details of the crimes committed against women and children (primarily) which may be difficult for some readers. Although I am very well versed in the true crime genre, at two or three places I did have to set this book aside as the details were so horrific.
The author gives a fascinating look at how treatment programmes are ran, and the methods that are used to get the men to reflect on their offending behaviours. It’s a shame there wasn’t more closure for some of the men featured in the book (that is, the author has no idea where they are now in the system or otherwise) but this is still a fascinating read nonetheless.
There are extremely graphic details of the crimes committed against women and children (primarily) which may be difficult for some readers. Although I am very well versed in the true crime genre, at two or three places I did have to set this book aside as the details were so horrific.
The author gives a fascinating look at how treatment programmes are ran, and the methods that are used to get the men to reflect on their offending behaviours. It’s a shame there wasn’t more closure for some of the men featured in the book (that is, the author has no idea where they are now in the system or otherwise) but this is still a fascinating read nonetheless.
August 5, 2023
This was a very interesting look at the work a forensic psychologist does.
I liked how this book focused on the day to day job of a forensic psychologist. It provided a very insightful look into what a forensic psychologist actually does.
The chapters and writing were very clear and engaging, which made reading about such a difficult subject much easier.
Highly recommend if you enjoy reading true crime books.
I liked how this book focused on the day to day job of a forensic psychologist. It provided a very insightful look into what a forensic psychologist actually does.
The chapters and writing were very clear and engaging, which made reading about such a difficult subject much easier.
Highly recommend if you enjoy reading true crime books.
April 29, 2024
Jak sam tytuł wskazuje jest to pozycja napisana przez kobietę, która jako psycholog prowadziła w więzieniu terapię dla ciężkich przestępców seksualnych. Już kiedyś miałam okazję czytać dość popularną pozycję tego typu i nie wspominam tej książki dobrze. Była przegadana i tak naprawdę zawierała zbiór anegdotego nie mających większego znaczenia. Z tego powodu podeszłam do tej nowości z dużą rezerwą.
I muszę zwrócić honor bo się nie zawiodłam. Tym razem dostałam dość dokładny opis konkretnych przypadków i przebiegu jednego z programów terapeutycznych wprowadzonych w angielskich więzieniach. Co prawda autorka podobno oszczędziła nam najdrastyczniejszych opisów ale mnie i tak bardziej tu ciekawiła ta psychologiczna strona. Byłam ciekawa jakimi metodami można pracować z tak zwichrowanymi umysłami i jakie efekty się przy tym osiąga i to dostałam.
Jednym minusem jaki tu dostrzegam jest wprowadzenie przez autorkę niepotrzebnych szczegółów z jej życia osobistego. Choć nie wykluczam, że być może chciała w ten sposób pokazać, że nawet jako psycholog i terapeuta nie jest odporna na pewne schematy zachowań.
I muszę zwrócić honor bo się nie zawiodłam. Tym razem dostałam dość dokładny opis konkretnych przypadków i przebiegu jednego z programów terapeutycznych wprowadzonych w angielskich więzieniach. Co prawda autorka podobno oszczędziła nam najdrastyczniejszych opisów ale mnie i tak bardziej tu ciekawiła ta psychologiczna strona. Byłam ciekawa jakimi metodami można pracować z tak zwichrowanymi umysłami i jakie efekty się przy tym osiąga i to dostałam.
Jednym minusem jaki tu dostrzegam jest wprowadzenie przez autorkę niepotrzebnych szczegółów z jej życia osobistego. Choć nie wykluczam, że być może chciała w ten sposób pokazać, że nawet jako psycholog i terapeuta nie jest odporna na pewne schematy zachowań.
September 6, 2022
I'm abandoning this book; it's not well written and boring in-between the bits which feel sensationalist. At the beginning, Myers says she won't go into details...she does. A lot.
It wasn't ever going to be a light read, but I just wasn't interested in how Myers was telling her story...as it wasn't her story and she wasn't doing it well.
It wasn't ever going to be a light read, but I just wasn't interested in how Myers was telling her story...as it wasn't her story and she wasn't doing it well.
August 5, 2022
I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review. As a Fourth Year Trainee Systemic and Family Psychotherapist, a qualified a social worker, and bookworm, this was a darkly fascinating and useful read.
Myers’ account of what it was like to conduct one of the first perpetrators’ rehabilitation group with some of the highest risk and violent crimes offenders in a prison was interesting. She manages to avoid jargon where possible, and clearly explains terms where technical language was included. Myers is painfully honest, and her sharing of internal monologues/thoughts/feelings, and the external voiced questions were really useful to a developing therapist to consider what questions would I have asked and why. Working with people who have done heinous and violent actions towards women and children is nothing new to me, but it is rewarding to know that she observed (and shared with us) that meaningful change can occur for some people. It's validating to hear that a strengths-based approach that emphasises respectful curiosity to enhance an offender's ability to hold themselves accountable, accept responsibility for their actions, and the importance of psychoeducation in rehabilitation and the prevention of future crime. I can see how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) was successful in some areas, but I also wince at the restorative justice approach and the use of re-enactments, (which Myers’ acknowledge was problematic) for those who occasionally used those sessions to gratuitously re-live some of the experiences they had during sexually violent and terrible acts against others.
The self-honesty of the book is pretty staggering. Myers’ doesn’t try to make her mistakes any prettier or frame her own issues in a better light – she chooses to highlight how there were more similarities than differences between herself and the men she was trying to help. This a set of ethical principles and a willingness to see the humanity in those who have been convicted of horrendous things is a difficult position to straddle - one that social workers, doctors, EMTs, fire services, therapists and religious leaders need to take regularly. Her reflective and reflexiveness increased overtime, and became more overt as she began to work with Kenny, a fellow co-facilitator. Myers also briefly explored her stance on the death penalty and asked hard ethical questions about the topic to herself and her co-facilitator.
It was thought-provoking to see within the book Myers’ own cognitive distortions (CDs) in respect to her own interpretation that there was no controlling or stopping her affair, the CD in normalising affairs in prisons, as well as the isomorphism of the facilitators and the offenders. She freely shared both positive and less healthy coping mechanisms used in her work, for our own verdict.
The stories of the prisoners were illuminating, and occasionally surprised me. Some of them moved from a perpetrator position to one of a protector and positive reflective team members (expert by experience) - these were moving moments. It helps make sure the reader sees them as more than just their rap sheet – although a heavy level of self-preservation should remain firmly in place, nor the absolvent of their part in the pain of the people they harmed, directly and indirectly.
The vicarious trauma and PTSD symptoms she describes in the book validates my own experiences of the same and many other people in similar fields. Such work does shape and change you - particularly in the early years. I remember 2 years after qualifying as a social worker being convinced that a man I saw every day at 8:30am talking to a lollypop man outside a junior school on the way to work was a paedophile – I kept asking myself why he had to see his friend every morning while he was surrounded by young children, but not any other time? This likely would not have occurred to me without my training and my job.
Most interesting of all for me as a trainee psychologist is her reflections, challenges and criticisms of the original program and how treatment has changed 20 years on. I’ll be particularly recommending this book for anyone completing perpetrator work.
Thanks. Food for thought!
Myers’ account of what it was like to conduct one of the first perpetrators’ rehabilitation group with some of the highest risk and violent crimes offenders in a prison was interesting. She manages to avoid jargon where possible, and clearly explains terms where technical language was included. Myers is painfully honest, and her sharing of internal monologues/thoughts/feelings, and the external voiced questions were really useful to a developing therapist to consider what questions would I have asked and why. Working with people who have done heinous and violent actions towards women and children is nothing new to me, but it is rewarding to know that she observed (and shared with us) that meaningful change can occur for some people. It's validating to hear that a strengths-based approach that emphasises respectful curiosity to enhance an offender's ability to hold themselves accountable, accept responsibility for their actions, and the importance of psychoeducation in rehabilitation and the prevention of future crime. I can see how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) was successful in some areas, but I also wince at the restorative justice approach and the use of re-enactments, (which Myers’ acknowledge was problematic) for those who occasionally used those sessions to gratuitously re-live some of the experiences they had during sexually violent and terrible acts against others.
The self-honesty of the book is pretty staggering. Myers’ doesn’t try to make her mistakes any prettier or frame her own issues in a better light – she chooses to highlight how there were more similarities than differences between herself and the men she was trying to help. This a set of ethical principles and a willingness to see the humanity in those who have been convicted of horrendous things is a difficult position to straddle - one that social workers, doctors, EMTs, fire services, therapists and religious leaders need to take regularly. Her reflective and reflexiveness increased overtime, and became more overt as she began to work with Kenny, a fellow co-facilitator. Myers also briefly explored her stance on the death penalty and asked hard ethical questions about the topic to herself and her co-facilitator.
It was thought-provoking to see within the book Myers’ own cognitive distortions (CDs) in respect to her own interpretation that there was no controlling or stopping her affair, the CD in normalising affairs in prisons, as well as the isomorphism of the facilitators and the offenders. She freely shared both positive and less healthy coping mechanisms used in her work, for our own verdict.
The stories of the prisoners were illuminating, and occasionally surprised me. Some of them moved from a perpetrator position to one of a protector and positive reflective team members (expert by experience) - these were moving moments. It helps make sure the reader sees them as more than just their rap sheet – although a heavy level of self-preservation should remain firmly in place, nor the absolvent of their part in the pain of the people they harmed, directly and indirectly.
The vicarious trauma and PTSD symptoms she describes in the book validates my own experiences of the same and many other people in similar fields. Such work does shape and change you - particularly in the early years. I remember 2 years after qualifying as a social worker being convinced that a man I saw every day at 8:30am talking to a lollypop man outside a junior school on the way to work was a paedophile – I kept asking myself why he had to see his friend every morning while he was surrounded by young children, but not any other time? This likely would not have occurred to me without my training and my job.
Most interesting of all for me as a trainee psychologist is her reflections, challenges and criticisms of the original program and how treatment has changed 20 years on. I’ll be particularly recommending this book for anyone completing perpetrator work.
Thanks. Food for thought!
April 10, 2023
This memoir of working as a prison psychologist, specifically running a group for sexual offences including paedophilia, rape and murder, is not an easy read.
The ‘story’ follows Dr Myers and a small group of offenders through the Core Sexual Offence Treatment Programme (SOTP), and then continues to follow most of the men as they move under Dr Myers’ supervision through the extended programme, to further explore their offending patterns and behaviours.
This is dark and gritty stuff, as Dr Myers doesn’t shy away from confronting the heinous details of the men’s offences and their attitudes and behaviours during treatment. The details are graphic and the author dives deeply into the triggers and motivations – it is all likely to be highly triggering, and not just to those specifically sensitive to the subject of sexual offences. Nothing is presented salaciously, however, but with a continued professional attitude and retrospective analysis which keeps the accounts clinical.
That isn’t to say that Dr Myers attempts to present everything in a remote and clinical fashion. She actually gives readers a lot of insight into her own intimate, personal life in parallel to her work life, as she reveals her self-doubts and relationship struggles through her training and then career. And throughout the book, she explores the dichotomy between her disgust at the offences but her need to be able to see the perpetrators as human beings in order to help them.
It was fascinating to see the progress the men made throughout the course of the programme’s treatment and then find out at the end that the programme was discredited and believed to cause offences to be more likely to reoccur than non-treatment. The author presents this information openly and fairly, showing the evidence against the programme and the rebuttals to that evidence, and analysing her own feelings about the efficacy having been a frontline provider.
The whole book is incredibly thought-provoking and forces readers to challenge their assumptions, prejudices and preconceptions alongside Dr Myers and the men under her care. It was very emotionally difficult to read, but so interesting that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone with an interest in the field.
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The ‘story’ follows Dr Myers and a small group of offenders through the Core Sexual Offence Treatment Programme (SOTP), and then continues to follow most of the men as they move under Dr Myers’ supervision through the extended programme, to further explore their offending patterns and behaviours.
This is dark and gritty stuff, as Dr Myers doesn’t shy away from confronting the heinous details of the men’s offences and their attitudes and behaviours during treatment. The details are graphic and the author dives deeply into the triggers and motivations – it is all likely to be highly triggering, and not just to those specifically sensitive to the subject of sexual offences. Nothing is presented salaciously, however, but with a continued professional attitude and retrospective analysis which keeps the accounts clinical.
That isn’t to say that Dr Myers attempts to present everything in a remote and clinical fashion. She actually gives readers a lot of insight into her own intimate, personal life in parallel to her work life, as she reveals her self-doubts and relationship struggles through her training and then career. And throughout the book, she explores the dichotomy between her disgust at the offences but her need to be able to see the perpetrators as human beings in order to help them.
It was fascinating to see the progress the men made throughout the course of the programme’s treatment and then find out at the end that the programme was discredited and believed to cause offences to be more likely to reoccur than non-treatment. The author presents this information openly and fairly, showing the evidence against the programme and the rebuttals to that evidence, and analysing her own feelings about the efficacy having been a frontline provider.
The whole book is incredibly thought-provoking and forces readers to challenge their assumptions, prejudices and preconceptions alongside Dr Myers and the men under her care. It was very emotionally difficult to read, but so interesting that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone with an interest in the field.
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 23, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel for an honest review. It has been published in August 2022.
"Inside Job: Treating Murderers and Sex Offenders. The Life of a Prison Psychologist" by Dr Rebecca Myers is an awesome professional memoir that reads like a novel, while still keeping both feet firmly rooted in science.
In case the title wasn't clear enough, please keep in mind this book comes with major content warnings (although the violence descriptions aren't overly detailed). Seriously, this read is not for the faint-hearted or for the easily triggered.
If you're not put off by this kind of themes, though, and if you want to gain a unique insight into a world where most of us (thankfully) have never set foot, "Inside Job" is one of those books that you can lose yourself into, one of those books capable of turning your worldview upside down and making you question all your assumptions and prejudices.
It even comes with a plot twist in the very last chapter!
Kudos to the author for not shying away from recounting even the parts of the story that make her look less than perfect. It must have taken a lot of courage not to sugarcoat the truth!
I'd be excited to read more about Dr Rebecca Myers' experiences as a prison psychologist.
"Inside Job: Treating Murderers and Sex Offenders. The Life of a Prison Psychologist" by Dr Rebecca Myers is an awesome professional memoir that reads like a novel, while still keeping both feet firmly rooted in science.
In case the title wasn't clear enough, please keep in mind this book comes with major content warnings (although the violence descriptions aren't overly detailed). Seriously, this read is not for the faint-hearted or for the easily triggered.
If you're not put off by this kind of themes, though, and if you want to gain a unique insight into a world where most of us (thankfully) have never set foot, "Inside Job" is one of those books that you can lose yourself into, one of those books capable of turning your worldview upside down and making you question all your assumptions and prejudices.
It even comes with a plot twist in the very last chapter!
Kudos to the author for not shying away from recounting even the parts of the story that make her look less than perfect. It must have taken a lot of courage not to sugarcoat the truth!
I'd be excited to read more about Dr Rebecca Myers' experiences as a prison psychologist.
October 22, 2023
After I was stalked, sexually assaulted for several weeks, and nearly killed by my apartment maintenance man, I really wanted to more deeply understand the psychology of rapists. I’d been raped before, but it was by people I’d dated, so I internalized a lot of blame. But once I was suddenly attacked, I really sought to understand how people could do this to someone. I understood my stalker as a narcissist and sociopath, but wanted to understand him more as a serial rapist and also see how treatments abroad fare at handling such a difficult psychology and behaviors. This book delivers.
I was raised by a rapist and I’ve known them all my life—even as kids I bonded to sociopaths—especially covert ones—one who committed suicide as a child. This book describes their overall attitudes and diversities and idiosyncrasies and cognitive distortions really well. There were many illuminating insights, especially on the child trauma that causes them, and severe trauma was obvious in my stalker, who had a prison record by a teenager.
The book gave me some measure of hope about treatments (though the US is so far behind in thinking about solutions that actually work for…like…anything at all). It was realistic, however, in showcasing how the offenders always have a tendency to lack real emotional empathy and carry their distorted and traumatized thinking, and that some, like pedophiles, have a high likelihood to reoffend.
But they definitely made strides that I’ve never seen in men like this, and it illuminated a lot about my own trauma. But the stories within it are not for the faint of heart. I like how she humanizes them though.
She points out her own issues with attachment and relationships to parallel her shortcomings to theirs, asking readers in turn to reflect on theirs, and I found myself analyzing myself too.
I was raised by a rapist and I’ve known them all my life—even as kids I bonded to sociopaths—especially covert ones—one who committed suicide as a child. This book describes their overall attitudes and diversities and idiosyncrasies and cognitive distortions really well. There were many illuminating insights, especially on the child trauma that causes them, and severe trauma was obvious in my stalker, who had a prison record by a teenager.
The book gave me some measure of hope about treatments (though the US is so far behind in thinking about solutions that actually work for…like…anything at all). It was realistic, however, in showcasing how the offenders always have a tendency to lack real emotional empathy and carry their distorted and traumatized thinking, and that some, like pedophiles, have a high likelihood to reoffend.
But they definitely made strides that I’ve never seen in men like this, and it illuminated a lot about my own trauma. But the stories within it are not for the faint of heart. I like how she humanizes them though.
She points out her own issues with attachment and relationships to parallel her shortcomings to theirs, asking readers in turn to reflect on theirs, and I found myself analyzing myself too.
February 3, 2025
Ciekawa pozycja dla pasjonatów psychologii sądowej i penitencjarnej - skupionej wokół przestępstw na tle seksualnym.
Jedyny minus jaki w niej widzę to wrzucanie prywaty autorki między opowieści zawodowe. Nie przepadam za tego typu rozwiązaniami w książkach, które mają skupiać się typowo na historiach i aspektach związanych z wykonywanym zawodem (a przynajmniej tak są opisywane). Sięgnęłam po nią, by poczytać o historiach z pracy pani psycholog zatrudnionej w więzieniu, a nie prywaty autorki. Nie było jej natomiast aż tak dużo, by uznać, że książka jest nie na temat, więc dla mnie to solidne 4 gwiazdki. Niektóre aspekty z życia prywatnego, które wynikały z doświadczeń zawodowych miały nawet jakąś wartość dodaną do całokształtu książki i prezentowanego obrazu psychologa w więziennictwie, więc jeśli ktoś lubi takie rzeczy to się tutaj odnajdzie.
Jedyny minus jaki w niej widzę to wrzucanie prywaty autorki między opowieści zawodowe. Nie przepadam za tego typu rozwiązaniami w książkach, które mają skupiać się typowo na historiach i aspektach związanych z wykonywanym zawodem (a przynajmniej tak są opisywane). Sięgnęłam po nią, by poczytać o historiach z pracy pani psycholog zatrudnionej w więzieniu, a nie prywaty autorki. Nie było jej natomiast aż tak dużo, by uznać, że książka jest nie na temat, więc dla mnie to solidne 4 gwiazdki. Niektóre aspekty z życia prywatnego, które wynikały z doświadczeń zawodowych miały nawet jakąś wartość dodaną do całokształtu książki i prezentowanego obrazu psychologa w więziennictwie, więc jeśli ktoś lubi takie rzeczy to się tutaj odnajdzie.
July 8, 2024
A superbly and sensitively written account by Dr Rebecca Myers of her work with offenders of heinous crimes in one of the UKs most notorious category A prisons. Whilst the subject matter is incredibly difficult to read, it is interesting especially to try and ascertain whether many offenders can indeed be rehabilitated into society without being a danger and the rate of success with men that many consider a lost cause. Definitely not easy subject matter , but certainly enlightening and it has been relayed in such a way as to preserve the identity of the offenders and the victims, so as to avoid being sensationalist, or mere entertainment, but mpreover to be educational and informative. #insidejob #drrebeccamyers #netgalley
October 21, 2022
This is one of the better memoirs i have read in terms of psychologists and criminals. This is the first i have read that had a sole focuys on sex offenders. I really like how she told her story from one of the worst prisons that houses these offenders. I was really impressed that she became a doctor at 22 years old and chose to work at such as scary place. She tells her story that she fears for her life on a daily basis but her life's work is to help these people. this book could be triggering but it should be known simply off of the title.
August 25, 2022
Amazing book giving a look at the lives of sex offenders and the treatments that they are given to try and stop reoffending if released for the serious crimes that they have committed.
I was give the privilege to read this book as a pre release via net galley for an open and honest review this is definitely 1 book I would recommend to my friends to read. It's fascinating to see how the criminals minds work and how they feel on role reversal in the same situation. The details are grim but this stuff happens in real life.
I was give the privilege to read this book as a pre release via net galley for an open and honest review this is definitely 1 book I would recommend to my friends to read. It's fascinating to see how the criminals minds work and how they feel on role reversal in the same situation. The details are grim but this stuff happens in real life.
August 30, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
What an absolutely fascinating book to see all of the inner workings of Psychologists within the prison setting. I have encountered sex offenders as part of my job, but knowing what they go through is insightful and will help me understand a bit more about what they go through before they come to me.
Great read
What an absolutely fascinating book to see all of the inner workings of Psychologists within the prison setting. I have encountered sex offenders as part of my job, but knowing what they go through is insightful and will help me understand a bit more about what they go through before they come to me.
Great read
Read
September 7, 2023This was incredibly dark, insightful, powerful and thought provoking.
I love books of this genre and setting and found that Inside Job really matched up to its competitors in a similar vain.
I really liked that it didn’t focus purely on the crimes, but the authors dedicated to improving prison care and rehabilitation for prisoners.
Incredibly gripping read.
I love books of this genre and setting and found that Inside Job really matched up to its competitors in a similar vain.
I really liked that it didn’t focus purely on the crimes, but the authors dedicated to improving prison care and rehabilitation for prisoners.
Incredibly gripping read.
October 20, 2023
A difficult read at times but a brilliant book. I loved how the book followed the SO group through both stages and didn't have a separate chapter for each different person as most books like this do. It was written like a novel which I enjoyed and had a cross over between Dr Rebecca Myers own life and her role on the SO course. Very very good book!
September 16, 2022
This book gave an insight into a newly qualified psychologists job within a prison setting focusing on men that have raped, abused, killed.
A graphic read at times, the book follows 6 men on their journey to try and rehabilitate with a view to release from prison.
The author gave a candid view of her personal growth and thought processes dealing with challenging patients. A difficult read but not that I regret reading.
A graphic read at times, the book follows 6 men on their journey to try and rehabilitate with a view to release from prison.
The author gave a candid view of her personal growth and thought processes dealing with challenging patients. A difficult read but not that I regret reading.
October 13, 2022
It left me underwhelmed.
I found that in places not enough details were provided and at times too much, so it was inconsistent in a way.
The whole book was dedicated to the SOTP (Sex Offender Treatment Programm), going into details of how it works etc. However in the end there's a whole chapter about how it was cancelled and might not be efficient at all, but rather harmful.
She explains why it was cancelled and deemed insufficient, however in my opinion this chapter should be at the start of the book as it changes the context of it in a way.
I did read it rather quickly, but I can't say I enjoyed it.
Thank you #NetGalley for my free copy
I found that in places not enough details were provided and at times too much, so it was inconsistent in a way.
The whole book was dedicated to the SOTP (Sex Offender Treatment Programm), going into details of how it works etc. However in the end there's a whole chapter about how it was cancelled and might not be efficient at all, but rather harmful.
She explains why it was cancelled and deemed insufficient, however in my opinion this chapter should be at the start of the book as it changes the context of it in a way.
I did read it rather quickly, but I can't say I enjoyed it.
Thank you #NetGalley for my free copy
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