Mr Hugh Nehrybecki, Mr Andy Chia1, Ms Jessica Gormley1, Ms Natalie Wilson1
1Problematic Behaviour Support Services, Richmond, Australia
Biography:
Hugh Nehrybecki is a Senior Psychologist at PBSS, completing the Clinical Psychology Registrar Program. His practice combines clinical formulation with specialised forensic expertise, particularly in psychosis, complex behaviour, sexual risk, paedophilic interests, and child sexual abuse material offending. Hugh uses schema therapy to help individuals and families understand how developmental experiences, beliefs, emotions, and coping patterns shape current functioning and risk. He brings empathy, ethical rigour, and evidence-based reasoning to assessment and intervention, balancing individual wellbeing with community safety. His work is distinguished by thoughtful engagement with highly sensitive presentations and a commitment to clear, defensible psychological practice.
Abstract:
Forensic practice is often strongest at assessing and managing risk, but less explicit about how intervention will produce risk reduction. Responsivity is frequently considered after assessment and treatment planning, rather than treated as a core mechanism through which change becomes possible. This can reproduce a containment-focused logic: controls are introduced to manage harm, while the conditions under which those controls can safely reduce remain unclear.
The Forensic Behaviour Support model positions responsivity as the bridge between risk formulation and risk reduction. Intervention is not seen as effective simply because it targets a criminogenic need. It must also be understandable, tolerable, meaningful and usable within the person’s everyday environment. Communication, cognition, trauma, motivation, relationships and emotional regulation therefore shape treatment design from the outset.
The presentation applies the logic of a restrictive-practice fade-out plan to forensic intervention. Each treatment plan should identify what reduced risk would look like, which indicators would justify reducing intensity or oversight, and how responsibility will gradually shift back to the person and their supports. Intervention should include its own review and exit conditions.
Schema Therapy mode maps are presented as one collaborative method for supporting this process. They can create a shared language for recognising states associated with vulnerability, withdrawal, aggression, compliance or self-control, linking forensic formulation with therapy, support-worker responses and relapse prevention.
Responsivity is therefore not an optional adaptation to risk management. It is the process through which management may become change, and through which intervention can become progressively less necessary.