Date of Conferral

5-3-2024

Date of Award

May 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Barbara Benoliel

Abstract

Over half of the incarcerated population suffer from a substance abuse disorder; however, less than 20% of those incarcerated have access to substance abuse treatment while incarcerated. In those facilities where substance abuse treatment is an option, pressures of overcrowding and financial constraints threaten the length of treatment programming offered to move more people through treatment quicker. Therapeutic communities (TCs) have been shown to be the best substance abuse treatment option for those who are incarcerated, but TCs were designed to be a phase-based program based on developmental changes and signs of growth through the program. The purpose of this qualitative cross-case study was to explore the experience of licensed mental health clinicians who provide TC treatment services to the incarcerated male population. Using a semi structured interview format for data collection, the experiences of five clinicians were solicited to better understand if they were able to observe changes in criminal thinking, attitudes, and behaviors in incarcerated males who participated in TC substance abuse treatment programs. Using cross-case analysis, three overarching themes emerged from the data: fidelity to the TC treatment model, community as method, and the change process. All five research participants endorsed a 9-12-month treatment experience. This study contributes to positive social change and the social determinants of health in that it explores the clinician’s experiences in providing treatment to this population and to provide new information to policy makers about length of treatment as seen from the providers’ perspective.

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