When you think of clinical psychology, what comes to mind? A small room, two chairs, a white board and a whole lot of talking. How would that work for young people who have offended?

Instead, let’s follow the evidence base and build an active therapy programme over many weeks that includes a 10-day intensive wilderness therapy programme with a team of clinical psychologists like Ian Lambie...

Ian started university life wanting to be a geologist before dropping out of university and starting a career in nursing. It was from this that his interest in psychology began, as he spent time working in acute psychiatry in Dunedin, Auckland and Sydney. After training to be a clinical psychologist, Ian worked for many years in family therapy at The Leslie Centre. That led on to a decade’s work with those young people who had offended, described by many as ‘too hard’ and ‘challenging’, before accidentally ending up as an academic. His research and teaching keeps asking, What do those young people really need in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve their life outcomes? Who speaks and advocates for them?

With a career of clinical work and research in youth justice, Ian then somehow ended up associated with the Beehive, seconded part-time as a science advisor to the justice sector, and adding the question, What do the public and politicians want? What do politicians need to know? Also ‘too hard’ and ‘challenging’, he works to nudge government towards system changes aimed at improving the lives of children, adolescents and families involved in justice matters.

Refreshments will be served in the Psychology reception foyer on level 2 in Building 302 (302-248) from 5:30pm, prior to the lecture.