14 Chapter 1 story again. After receiving a warning from his parole officer, Johan started attending appointments with the social worker who helped himwith the application for social benefits and found a place for him at a supported housing facility. Perhaps clinicians could be of some help after all, he thought. Johan then participated in cognitive behavioral therapy focused on limiting alcohol use and cannabis use. He learned to control his alcohol use and minimize triggers. For example, not spending so much time with the people he has been hanging out with all his life and not drinking more than three alcoholic beers at soccer games of Ajax, which has led to public urination, fines, and aggressive confrontations with police many times in the past. Furthermore, Johan is exploring pharmacotherapy with the psychiatrist, which could help him reduce the agitation he has experienced since childhood and help him arrive on time at appointments with important agencies and at vocational activities. Right now, it sometimes feels like he is drowning in responsibilities. Therefore, cannabis helps him to relax. In terms of criminal behavior, things are going well. However, Johan struggles to find his place in society and lately feels rather passive and down. He does not have much money to spend now that he is paying off his debts and is surrounded by people who are bothering him with their problems at the supported housing facility where he lives. This annoys him and sometimes he loses his temper towards the other residents. He isolates himself in his room in an effort to avoid conflicts and warnings. Being alone, his thoughts go in all directions. He does not want to bother family, as they have been through enough with him and all are busy. There are not much fun things for him to do now he has less money and is avoiding the people he used to hang out with. It makes him think more about the opportunities to earn a lot of money. He wonders if he could use that money to go out more and live more independently. Johan’s story shows an initial aversion towards forensic care. However, after ongoing efforts by clinicians to schedule appointments and the provision of practical care focused on important basic needs (i.e., income and housing), trust was built and a working alliance emerged. This illustrates that treatment was continuously tailored to the individual’s motivation and abilities (i.e., responsivity principle). Multiple (overlapping) criminogenic needs and mental health needs were addressed in treatment, such as substance use and agitation, which contributed to desistance in criminal behavior. However, at this point in treatment, Johan has difficulty adjusting to his new life (i.e., developing new social relationships and finding meaningful activities) and appears unhappy and lonely, ultimately increasing the risk of criminal recidivism. For Johan, self-agency, recreational activities and/or work, inner peace, social relationships, community and belonging, and happiness, are potential primary-good-domains that could be addressed in the treatment to further enhance treatment outcomes.
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