Abstract
The corrections system in the United States is largely focused on punishment. Trauma-informed therapeutic services were particularly absent during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. This chapter discusses the importance and benefits of providing incarcerated persons with mental health treatment such as art therapy. The authors highlight one pilot study, which conducted an 8-week theme-based art therapy group in a women's county jail in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participant benefits from the group correlated with three of the main goals of the incarceration system: rehabilitation, deterrence, and restoration. Participants reported multiple benefits including decreased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation. A decrease in reported jail infractions among participants was also noted. The authors discuss directions for future research with this population.
TopIntroduction
Art therapy is an effective way for incarcerated individuals to express themselves and process their emotions and experiences, and especially in cases where traditional talk therapy may be challenging due to illiteracy, organicity, or difficulties with verbal communication. Art therapy can be a cost-efficient way to combat behavioral problems linked to mental illness and decrease symptoms of depression among incarcerated individuals. Art therapy provides a safe and acceptable way for individuals to express and release potentially destructive feelings such as anger and aggression, leading to an overall positive increase in mood and fewer infractions (Erikson, 2008).
Society benefits from providing incarcerated people with mental health treatment; this might include opportunities for personal growth, insight, reflection, reconciliation, and reparations. Providing incarcerated women with access to medical and mental health care, pre- and post-natal care, drug-treatment and STD treatment is not only humane, but it also is a step towards acknowledging racial justice inequalities, interrupting cycles of oppression and intergenerational trauma, and helping inmates return to society in a better condition than when they left. The intentions behind the design of our corrections system were to be both punitive, and constructive in the shaping of more desirable social behavior. Research supports that collaborative healthcare and consistent social services for incarcerated people results in better interpersonal behavior, increased resiliency, decreased complaints, better coping skills, decreased recidivism, and an increased likelihood of life success after incarceration (Gold & Marcus, 2008; Ha & Robinson, 2011). Addressing inmates’ mental health needs decreases suicide attempts, emergency room visits, and overall correctional costs (Morrissey, et al., 2006). Investing in our incarcerated population benefits the social order, most significantly perhaps by interrupting cycles of violence and oppression.
The shame and stigma associated with incarceration can have significant negative impacts on mental health and well-being, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Harner & Riley, 2013; James & Glaze, 2006; Mignon, 2016). “Mental health is likely to worsen in jail/prison settings due to increased stress, fear, isolation from loved ones, limited access to mental health services, and substandard treatment by health and correctional staff” (Tadros, et al., 2021, para 5). It is important to recognize the humanity of incarcerated individuals and to work towards creating a more just and equitable criminal justice system that prioritizes rehabilitation and restoration over punishment (Herman, 2023). Therapists working with incarcerated individuals should be aware of the impact of shame and stigma, and the increased likelihood of mental illness. Jails are not designed for mental health, and they lack adequate resources to ensure that inmates are getting humane healthcare treatment. Nevertheless, there is much that can be achieved within a jail setting that will bring skilled clinicians, and therapeutic services to the inmate population and better serve the goals of corrections (Rice & Jennings, 2014).
This chapter showcases the impact of art therapy on the well-being of incarcerated individuals; a pilot study showcasing the participation of 32 incarcerated people in a structured, theme-based, 8-week art therapy group in a county women’s jail. The findings of this study highlight some of the most optimal benefits of providing trauma-informed mental health care to incarcerated persons. The authors present future directions in art therapy research with an incarcerated population.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Person-Centered Therapy: Emphasizes the importance of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship. The therapist strives to create a space where the individual feels heard, understood, and valued as a unique and complex individual.
Mental Wellness: An individual's journey to obtain their mental health goals.
Corrections: The process of or institution established to facilitate changing behavior by stopping and punishing identified negative behaviors and learning and implementing positive behaviors; most used in discussion of individuals who violate the normal social order, including breaking laws and challenging typically accepted social structures.
Social Justice: The process and goal of examining history, institutions, current societal structures, community services, and attitudes for equity, equality, integrity, fairness, and respect for dignity, and making changes that will move towards these ethical principles.
Art Therapy: The intentional use of artistic expression facilitated by a mental health provider that has advanced specialty training in Art Therapy to process grief, recover from trauma, manage symptoms, enhance self-awareness, improve communication with self or others, or to achieve other defined therapeutic goals.
Rehabilitation: The process of, or institution established to facilitate the process of change and positive growth within a person, which may exist on many levels, including psychological, behavioral, social, and emotional.
Healing: The individual process of improving one’s functioning and recovering from one's wounds, whether physical, psychological, or emotional.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): A specific type of adverse experience that occurs during childhood and can have significant impacts on a person's development and functioning throughout their lifespan. ACEs can include experiences such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and exposure to violence or substance abuse.
Mental Health: The state of being that reflects how psychologically healthy or unwell a person thinks and feels that they are, including the identification and management of symptoms, coping strategies, relationships, and engagement in life.