Treatment of Female Offenders: Individual Psychotherapy in System-Theory Perspective (From Female Offenders: Critical Perspectives and Effective Interventions, Second Edition, P 235-250, 2008, Ruth T. Zaplin, ed. -- See NCJ-225923)

• NCJ Number: 225930
• Author(s): Bernard Weitzman
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Jones and Bartlett Publishers
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter focuses on individual psychotherapy and female offenders, specifically, systems theory as it is applied from a “depth psychological” perspective.

Abstract

The female offender’s self-acceptance and positive self-regard, elaborated upon in this chapter, is best achieved in the community-based correctional setting. Specifically, it involves treatment staff developing new competencies and working collectively to provide what is called, “a team-based program of systemic treatment.” This chapter applies the lens of systems theory (an understanding of individual psychotherapy that is gradually taking place) from a depth-psychological perspective. It offers the view that the treatment relationship, the interaction of therapist and client, form a system within which the conflicting emotions of the client can move toward resolution. It is argued that in the context of a system-oriented team effort to restore female offenders to normal, productive lives, the best contribution of psychotherapy is a correction of the client’s negative self-regard. References