Essay on ACT Improves Long-Term Outcomes of Drug-Dependent Female Inmates

Gonzalez Menendez, A. M., Fernandez Garcia, M. P., Rodriguez Lamelas, F., & Villagra Lanza, P. (2014). Long-term outcomes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in drug-dependent female inmates: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.

This article is about the acceptance and commitment therapy technique that is used to treat female inmates who depend on drugs. The article also outlines the long-term impacts of the theory and how they help the female inmates. This technique is said to be the most representative treatment of the related therapies. Acceptance and commitment theory dismantles the obstinate range that symbolizes the experimental avoidance, that is, the affinity to escape from or avoid aversive private actions, for example, memories, thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions. Acceptance and commitment theory, suggests the approval of the feared private occurrences when the attempt to regulate them is counter-productive in the future. Acceptance and commitment theory is said to be more effective than cognitive-behavioral treatment because it helps inmates reduce drug abuse in their daily life. Also, the female inmates who received acceptance and commitment treatment showed reduced thoughts and emotions, which leads and individual to abuse drugs. The effects of acceptance and commitment theory are long-term, and they help an individual to maintain a positive life when they start receiving treatment. This counseling method helps the inmates to stay away from drugs, and their chances of committing the crime will be reduced because they will no longer be under the influence of drugs.

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Christensen, L. S. (1975). The development of a self-analysis instrument to aid the counselor in prerelease counseling of prison inmates (Doctoral dissertation, Drake University).

This article explains the self-analysis instrument method, which helps to counsel inmates. According to Christensen, he said that the problem I correctional facilities is that most inmates are not armed to cope with the stress of family, marital, and the community once they are released out of prison. The self-analysis instrument was used to convey a three-way counseling session, where the inmate would be provided with a realistic outlook of his or her obligations and assets. The self-analysis instrument was effective because it helped the inmates to recognize what they would expect once they were released. The inmates were provided with future alternatives on what they would do once they were released. Also, they were offered treatment methods that would help them to deal with the stress they would receive from their family members or even society. Once an inmate is provided with self-analysis, his chances for committing the crime will be reduced because he has the fear that he might receive more stigma from the society hence causing depression.

Lubin, H., & Schneider, T. (2009). Change is possible: EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) with life-sentence and veteran prisoners at San Quentin State Prison. Energy, 1(1).

This article presents the emotional freedom technique, which helps inmates to deal with emotional trauma since they start losing contact with the people they love, and also their family members. Inmates are involved in this method to disclose self-reported variations in their instinct control, positive commitment in the prison society, sense of individual accountability, and somatic symptomatology. According to Lubin, he said that this technique is effective because it has helped inmates to reduce prison violence; it also adjusts dysfunctional cognitive systems that lead to enhanced resiliency and repetitive situational behavior. This technique also goes beyond the prison since the inmates can relate well with people once they are released, and they reduce violence in the community, and this helps the inmate to avoid the same crime, which might lead to imprisonment.

Kahnweiler, W. M. (1978). Group counseling in a correctional setting. The Personnel and Guidance Journal, 57(3), 162-164.

This article explains about group therapy technique and how it is effective for inmates. The character of the counselor is always viewed as a vital variable in the success of the group. This method is an effective way to deal with negative group pressures that block the rehabilitative efforts. Group therapy formulates certain aims and objectives to be followed by the group. The offenders explore and asses the lives of each other by scrutinizing their behaviors, attitudes, and values. This method is effective because the inmates come to realize that crime does not pay, and it only leads to bad deeds. Some of the inmates realize that they committed the crime due to pressure from their friends, and it is not worth it. This helps the inmates to have self-acceptance, they realize themselves, and they do not engage in the same crime. Also, the offenders conduct an assessment where they ask each other if they were the victims of the crime how would they feel. This helps them to sympathize with the victims, and if they are released out of prison, they avoid committing a crime.

Hilyer, J. C., Wilson, D. G., Dillon, C., Caro, L., Jenkins, C., Spencer, W. A., ... & Booker, W. (1982). Physical fitness training and counseling as a treatment for youthful offenders. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 29(3), 292.

This article outlines physical fitness training and counseling as a treatment technique for offenders. The inmates are provided with posttreatment and pretreatment a battery of psychological and physiological measures, and then they are tested for self-inventory, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness. They later go through the counseling model, and the physiologist found out that these exercises keep the inmates busy, and they do not have to think a lot. This technique helps inmates because it tests their endurance, and it keeps them busy, and they do not have to engage in negative thoughts. Exercise stimulates certain hormones in the body, and when the inmates get used to it, they will always exercise instead of staying idle. This helps inmates to engage in gymnastics even after they have been released from prisons, and they will lack time to think of committing crimes.

References

Hilyer, J. C., Wilson, D. G., Dillon, C., Caro, L., Jenkins, C., Spencer, W. A., ... & Booker, W. (1982). Physical fitness training and counseling as a treatment for youthful offenders. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 29(3), 292. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1982-24248-001

Kahnweiler, W. M. (1978). Group counseling in a correctional setting. The Personnel and Guidance Journal, 57(3), 162-164. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2164-4918.1978.tb05132.x

Lubin, H., & Schneider, T. (2009). Change is possible: EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) with life-sentence and veteran prisoners at San Quentin State Prison. Energy, 1(1). Retrieved from http://www.alternativehealthcarepros.com/wp-content/uploads/lubin.pdf

Gonzalez Menendez, A. M., Fernandez Garcia, M. P., Rodriguez Lamelas, F., & Villagra Lanza, P. (2014). Long-term outcomes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in drug-dependent female inmates: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. Retrieved from http://digibuo.uniovi.es/dspace/bitstream/10651/25365/1/Long-term%20outcomes%20of%20Acceptance%20and%20Commitment%20Therapy%20in%20drug-dependent%20female%20inmates-%20A%20randomized%20controlled%20trial.pdf

Christensen, L. S. (1975). The development of a self-analysis instrument to aid the counselor in prerelease counseling of prison inmates (Doctoral dissertation, Drake University). Retrieved from https://escholarshare.drake.edu/bitstream/handle/2092/916/dt1975lsc.pdf?...1