Date of Graduation

Summer 8-21-2027

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department

Psychology

Program

Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

First Advisor

Michelle Montagno, Psy.D

Second Advisor

June Madsen Clausen, Ph.D

Third Advisor

Cristina Loree, Psy.D

Abstract

This dissertation explored mental health providers’ perspectives about how incarceration-related stigma impacts formerly incarcerated women’s mental health, and what interventions are being implemented to address these impacts. Previous studies about impacts of incarceration have focused mainly on the perspectives of justice-involved individuals, leaving a gap in understanding how mental health providers perceive and respond to these challenges from a clinical lens. Five participants qualified for inclusion in the study and participated in semi-structured interviews. The researcher analyzed these interviews using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Participants described noticing clients endorsing mental health symptoms aligned with anxiety and depression resulting from incarceration-related stigma. Specifically, hopelessness, shame, guilt, and worry were highlighted as prevalent experiences for their clients. Participants identified various social, societal, and professional barriers stemming from stigmatization that negatively impacted their clients’ well-being. Participants also highlighted clinical experiences related to working with formerly incarcerated women, such as beneficial interventions and treatment barriers. Specifically, participants described utilizing CBT, DBT, trauma-informed, and client-centered practices, and identified  barriers including lack of relevant, standardized, clinical training and countertransference management.

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