Dr Joe Sullivan
Director of Behaviour Analysis and Forensic Psychology
Forensic Solutions
Dr Joe Sullivan CPsychol, AFBPsS, Reg. Psychol. Ps. S.I., MA (Crim) BA (Hons) CQSW Dip Psychol
Qualifications
Dr. Sullivan is a Registered Forensic Psychologist with more than 40 years of experience in forensic psychology, offender assessment, and child protection. He holds a PhD in Forensic Psychology, a Master's degree in Criminology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Sciences, and a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work.
Clinical Practice
From 1986 to 2002, Dr. Sullivan specialised in the assessment and therapeutic treatment of individuals who had committed sexual offences against children. He has extensive experience working with adolescent and adult male and female offenders, as well as with adults who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Since 2015, Dr. Sullivan has provided therapeutic intervention for children and young people presenting with harmful or problematic sexual behaviour through his work with Compass Children's Homes (UK).
Law Enforcement and Investigative Consultancy
Between 2002 and 2006, Dr. Sullivan served as a consultant to the Serious Sex Offenders Unit (SSOU) of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), providing specialist expertise on individuals who commit sexual offences against children.
From 2006 to 2013, he was Consultant Forensic Psychologist within the Behavioural Analysis Unit at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), where he played a key role in establishing and developing the unit.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sullivan has contributed to some of the United Kingdom's highest-profile investigations involving offences against children, including child abduction and homicide, organised child sexual exploitation, institutional child sexual abuse, and online child exploitation.
He has worked alongside and delivered specialist training to law enforcement agencies across the world, including the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, UK national and regional police forces, Australian and Canadian police services, INTERPOL, Europol, and law enforcement agencies throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He also provides consultancy and professional training to residential children's homes, international schools, churches, faith-based organisations, and other institutions responsible for safeguarding children and vulnerable people.
Research and Professional Contributions
Dr. Sullivan is engaged in long-term qualitative research examining the behaviour and psychology of adults who commit sexual offences against children. He has published and presented nationally and internationally on evidence-informed approaches to engaging, assessing, and interviewing sexual offenders, contributing to the development of best practice within forensic psychology and criminal investigations.