Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision
Document Type
Article
Keywords
offenders with mental illness, forensic mental health counseling, counselor education, social justice
Subject Area
Counseling, Counselor Education
Abstract
Racially and economically disenfranchised offenders with mental illness (OMI) are incarcerated at disproportionately high rates but experience less access to and utilization of mental healthcare. There is a need for trained counselors to work in forensic environments who are competent to provide multiculturally sensitive social justice-oriented interventions. However, there is little research exploring the extent counseling students are offered didactic or experiential training for working with OMI. Utilizing concurrent embedded mixed methods to explore relationships between opportunities and obstacles to counseling programs offering this training, this study finds interest in training exists but potential concerns about bias, safety, and other barriers need to be considered. Analysis of these findings and implications for further study, advocacy and continuing education are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Ellmo, F. I., Holman, L. F., James, R., & Kemker, L. (2022). Educating Counselors about Offenders with Mental Illness: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 15(3). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/jcps/vol15/iss3/7