Other Concentration

Forensic Psychology Lab

PEOPLE

    • Associate Professor
    • School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing
    • Associate ProfessorSchool of Psychology, Speech and Hearing

    Sarah Christofferson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and a Registered Clinical Psychologist. Her research interests include the therapeutic and systemic prevention of sexual abuse, assessment and treatment approaches for people who have sexually offended, strategies for measuring therapeutic change, and the valid integration of change into risk evaluations.

    Sarah Christofferson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and a Registered Clinical Psychologist. Her research interests include the therapeutic and systemic prevention of sexual abuse, assessment and treatment approaches for people who have sexually offended, strategies for measuring therapeutic change, and the valid integration of change into risk evaluations.

    • Faculty of Science
    • Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
  • Head
    • Associate Head of School (ACA)
    • School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing
    • Associate Head of School (ACA)School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing
    • Senior Lecturer Above the Bar
    • School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing
    • Senior Lecturer Above the BarSchool of Psychology, Speech and Hearing
    I am a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Canterbury, currently delivering courses in forensic psychology, research methods and statistics.

    My research focusses on prevention and rehabilitation approaches for sexual offending and family violence offending, including the assessment and communication of offending risk, and understanding the mechanisms underlying treatment change.

    I have also led a number of evaluations of offending-related intervention programmes, including: the Ministry of Justice’s Police Safety Order (PSO) Brief Risk and Needs Assessment pilot; the Family Violence Courts initiative; and, the NZ Defence Force’s Sexual Assault Response Team. Additionally, I have led or been involved in a number of evaluations and research projects in the broader social sector, including evaluations of Oranga Tamariki's Family Start Programme, and the Ministry of Health's Healthy Homes Initiative.

    I have strong experience in qualitative evaluation methodologies and a special interest in quantitative research methods including quasi-experimental techniques. I have also increasingly been utilising Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure to conduct research exploring the social connectedness and wellbeing of New Zealand populations, including offenders, victims of crime, and sole parents.
    I am a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Canterbury, currently delivering courses in forensic psychology, research methods and statistics.

    My research focusses on prevention and rehabilitation approaches for sexual offending and family violence offending, including the assessment and communication of offending risk, and understanding the mechanisms underlying treatment change.

    I have also led a number of evaluations of offending-related intervention programmes, including: the Ministry of Justice’s Police Safety Order (PSO) Brief Risk and Needs Assessment pilot; the Family Violence Courts initiative; and, the NZ Defence Force’s Sexual Assault Response Team. Additionally, I have led or been involved in a number of evaluations and research projects in the broader social sector, including evaluations of Oranga Tamariki's Family Start Programme, and the Ministry of Health's Healthy Homes Initiative.

    I have strong experience in qualitative evaluation methodologies and a special interest in quantitative research methods including quasi-experimental techniques. I have also increasingly been utilising Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure to conduct research exploring the social connectedness and wellbeing of New Zealand populations, including offenders, victims of crime, and sole parents.
    • Faculty of Science
    • Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
    • Media enquiries
    • Collaborative research projects
    • Consulting & advisory services
    • Outreach & community engagement
    • Policy advice & government consultation

Other Concentration contact

  • University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand