Can you tell me a bit about your expertise and the trainees you typically encounter in your workshops?
My expertise lies in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. This includes those who are currently incarcerated, on probation, involved in the drug court system, participating in alternatives to incarceration outpatient programs, and more. Research tells us that CBT is the best practice for this population across a variety of different settings.
My trainings to date have focused on CBT for substance use and trauma, and my trainees have varying levels of experience and exposure to CBT. I’ve had trainees with backgrounds in psychology and psychiatry, those with doctoral-level degrees, and those who are not involved in direct patient care who have little background or training in CBT or psychology in general. For those who are not familiar with CBT, I make sure to provide both an introduction as well as an idea of how they can be involved therapeutically as part of the larger criminal justice system.
Understanding trauma and the principles of trauma-informed care is vital to working with justice-involved individuals and to my trainings. I include a lot of information on how to implement both specific strategies to unpack, address, and heal from trauma, as well as the more typical methods we see in evidence-based practice.
Can you expand on the role trauma plays in criminal justice work and your trainings? Have ideas around trauma in your trainings changed at all with the advent of the pandemic?
There has definitely been a more significant focus on trauma since the pandemic, as well as a global recognition of systemic oppression and racism and how they cause and interact with trauma. Racism and incarceration are traumas in and of themselves. When those who have experienced these traumas are exposed to racism in their community, microaggressions, police brutality on the news, getting patted down, etc., they may be prone to their trauma resurfacing.
The United States has the largest incarcerated population and the highest incarceration rate in the world. Furthermore, Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans nationally, and the numbers vary by state. The gravity of this country’s mass incarceration problem is difficult to comprehend, and it is even more difficult to conceptualize solutions. We discuss that there are large-scale systemic changes that are necessary to solve the incarceration crisis in this country, however it is important to provide strategies to individuals navigate the system as it currently exists. In my trainings, I try to emphasize that the work we do requires an understanding of the devastating magnitude of the situation and its impact on families and communities. We may not support the policies in place that allow for this to happen, but we aim to mitigate the trauma, prevent reoffending, and ultimately help clients work toward better lives.
What are some ways you address preventing reoffending in your trainings?
Research shows that good quality CBT can help reduce recidivism. In addition, a systemic approach that treats the family and community along with the individual is more effective. The incarceration narrative in this country is often centered around the individual, but families and communities are subject to trauma as well. That said, my trainees are primarily working with individuals, so my trainings tend to focus on the strategies that will be most useful to them. These include a concentration on addressing current situations as well as preventive work, which often includes addressing problems that have brought individuals into the system in the first place.
The Good Lives model is a strengths-based approach focused on positive psychology and building resilience. As individuals lead healthier and happier lives, they are less likely to reoffend. Instead of avoidance-based goals, the approach involves goals that encourage looking forward and helping individuals figure out how they can lead more successful lives. The literature around this model suggests that improved mental health, supportive relationships, education, and employment are some positive factors that can help clients cope more effectively in the present.
Speaking of coping, this work seems like it has a great deal of potential for burnout. How do you address this with your trainees?
Secondary trauma is very prevalent when working with individuals in the criminal justice system. Research on vicarious traumatization suggests individuals in these settings experience it at high rates, so my goal is to help trainees be as present as possible for their clients. A lot of what we discuss for our clients can be helpful within ourselves as well, and I emphasize self-care and other CBT strategies as a way of life rather than an approach to employ exclusively with clients. My hope is that these strategies are effective with their clients, which in turn helps them enjoy their job more and continue providing better quality care for those whom they serve. It is encouraging that there is so much data available pointing to the effectiveness of the CBT, though integrating CBT in the criminal justice system is still a relatively new idea.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about these trainings?
The late Dr. Aaron T. Beck really recognized the importance of serving justice-involved individuals, which is so often forgotten and made invisible. Dr. Beck understood the significance and the need, and this issue was dear to his heart. Unfortunately, at present, the criminal justice system is the largest mental health provider we have in the country. With so many clients with persistent serious mental health conditions, it is more important than ever to talk about how to motivate people, find goals, and build resilience.