Navigating education and training in forensic psychology: strengths and challenges for learners with ADHD

Purpose Neurodiversity within education and the workplace has attracted interest as part of the wider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion movement. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one aspect of neurodiversity, traits of which can feature as both barriers and strengths within education and training. There is a worldwide paucity of research about Higher Education Institution (HEI) students with ADHD, including in the UK. In addition, there is no research exploring the HEI ADHD student experiences in Forensic Psychology. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the UK training route for Forensic Psychology provides barriers and opportunities for people with ADHD. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative research methodology. Interviews with n = 15 learners with ADHD who were currently undertaking or had completed either Stages 1 or 2 Forensic Psychology Training were conducted via MS Teams. Findings Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Forensic Psychology learners with ADHD shared many similarities with other HEI ADHD student experiences and were also considered to have traits which provided a positive fit to forensic workplace environments and working with forensic clients. However, distinct challenges were noted both in terms of the route to qualification for Forensic Psychology learners with ADHD and the stigma associated with ADHD in forensic settings. Practical implications Practical ways in which the route to training in Forensic Psychology could be made more inclusive for learners with ADHD are made including ways in which education, training and supervision could be improved to attract and retain a population of learners who could bring value to the profession. Originality/value Research exploring neurodiversity has gained momentum as part of the wider Equality, Diversity and Inclusion movement, particularly within the arenas of education and employment. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore how the UK training route for Forensic Psychology provides barriers and opportunities for people with ADHD.