Psychological Treatment Behind the Walls:Insights from the Inside

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be gained from working within a prison environment. Participants will also learn about the systemic challenges and biases that are common barriers to facilitating psychological recovery inside the system. Discussions of how recovery from mental illness begins inside the system will be combined with a personal narrative of the presenter about the impact that change can have on both client and therapist. The role of advocacy, change agency, and personal ethics will be explored to encourage participants to reformulate their view of what recovery means and where recovery begins within the spectrum of justice involved populations. Learning Objectives 1. Examine the role of the institutionalization on mental illness 2. Analyze two complexities of the mental health care system within an institutional setting 3. Identify three factors that lead to change within the system of incarceration 4. Apply change agency for continuity of care following incarceration