Forensic and Clinical Psychology Centre

25/02/2026

Check out my latest blog post on Making sense of the Self Aggrandiser Mode in forensic contexts

Six Variations That Show Up in Forensic Work

25/02/2026

In this week's episode of Beyond the Therapy, Shay Addison and I are thrilled to welcome back Dr. Nathan Brooks for a deep dive into the shifting landscape of lone-actor violence. With recent heartbreaking cases like Dezi Freeman here in Australia and the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk in the US making headlines, we explore how these acts seem to be evolving—focusing more on targeted strikes against figures who represent broader ideologies.

Nathan shares fresh insights from statistical trends and emerging patterns, drawing directly from his expertise in forensic psychology. We also celebrate the release of his new book, Mass Casualty: The Rise of Lone Actors, which unpacks these complex issues with clarity and compassion. If you're in forensics, mental health, or just grappling with these societal challenges, this conversation is one you won't want to miss—it's timely, thoughtful, and grounded in real-world implications.

Grab Nathan's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Mass-Casualty-Rise-Lone-Actors/dp/0473749998

And check out Groundproof Forensic Institute: https://www.groundproofforensics.com/

https://beyondthecrimepodcast.buzzsprout.com/2228103/episodes/18738300-from-ideology-to-violence-lone-actors-and-the-psychology-of-extremism-with-dr-nathan-brooks

In this episode, hosts Dr Lars Madsen and Shay Addison welcome back guest Dr Nathan Brooks for a timely and thought-provoking conversation. Against the backdrop of recent cases - including Dezi Freeman in Australia and the killing of Charlie Kirk ...

22/01/2026

I am pleased to announce the premiere of our new season of Beyond the Crime: A Psychological Analysis. Together with my colleagues Shay Addison and Dr Rob Brockman, I examine one of Australia's most prominent and tragic recent cases: the conviction of Erin Patterson, often referred to in media coverage as the “mushroom murderer.”

In this episode, we deliberately step beyond the legal verdict and sentencing to address a fundamental question that the trial process could not fully resolve: what psychological processes may have contributed to the behaviour in question?
Drawing on schema therapy—a framework I have applied extensively in clinical and forensic practice—we propose a speculative formulation. This analysis integrates publicly available courtroom evidence, reported patterns of behaviour, and established schema modes, while remaining strictly hypothetical and non-diagnostic. Our aim is to illuminate potential underlying dynamics of cognition, emotion, and interpersonal functioning that warrant thoughtful consideration in understanding extreme acts.

The discussion is intended for those with an interest in forensic psychology, criminal behaviour analysis, and the application of evidence-based therapeutic models to high-profile cases.

Dr Lars Madsen, Shay Addison, and Dr Rob Brockman are back for a new season to examine one of Australia’s  one of Australia’s most high-profile recent cases - the conviction of Erin Patterson, widely referred to in the media as “the mushroom ...

20/01/2026

In my latest post on Beyond The Therapy:

“Fast and Slow Lives: Schema Therapy Perspectives on the Emergence of Antisocial and Psychopathic Traits in Forensic Contexts”

Life History Theory explains how harsh, unpredictable childhoods calibrate individuals toward “fast” survival strategies—impulsivity, risk-taking, detachment, and exploitation—that closely mirror antisocial and psychopathic traits. Schema modes (Detached Protector, Bully and Attack, Conning-Manipulator, Impulsive Child) represent the psychological expression of these evolutionary adaptations.

This lens offers a non-moralistic framework for forensic work: validating survival logic while guiding recalibration toward the Healthy Adult mode through safety, consistency, and mode rescripting.

Read the full article: https://open.substack.com/pub/larsbangmadsen/p/fast-and-short-lives-an-evolutionary?r=py5ok&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Schema Modes as Evolutionarily Calibrated Survival Responses???

03/12/2025