Exploring Counseling Approaches in Criminal Justice

Over the course of reading the Houses of Healing, I was enlightened to the many and very different types of counseling ideas that are used by Criminal justice counselors and all the ways that an offender can change and get the help that they may need. I found that not all ideas will work from these programs for all of the offenders but many are the step in the right direction for many. I will relate many of the exercises from the book and give my overall opinion on theses exercises and their importance for rehabilitation and treatment for offenders. The book cover a lot of ground on the different ideas that are out there for criminal justice counseling should and has been carried out. The ones that I felt were the most important include

This is a big part for the rehabilitation of the inmates in prison, even for those who do not need the counseling portion. Making the best of all the time that they have in prison but better themselves in many different ways. The inmates have a wide array of things for them to get involved in. There are programs that allow the offenders to get an education or pick up where they last left off. There are vocational courses and job skills trainings for them to take. They can also get involved in volunteer work for the elderly or the youths who are heading down the very path that they have walked. Many different treatments ranging from anger management, sexual and domestic abuse, substance abuse, emotional healing, and much more. These programs can all help any offender but many will have to go through it at their own pace, so that can be the only downside is that no all can get to a better place at the same

Mediation and relaxation can be the key to getting an offender to change their views on life and become a better version of themselves. Robin believes that “mediation helps develop the ability to quite yourself enough to listen and trust what is often referred to as, the “still small voice within” – a voice of wisdom and compassion.” (Casarjian, 1995, p. 235), and I absolutely agree with him on that. Not only does it allow use to hear that inner voice to guide us but to be able to not lash out in any way they offender sees fit, which is what they may have done in the past, which lead them to where they are now. The exercise of mediation is one that anyone could be able to use to find some kind of inner peace and become relaxed. I tried the relaxation response exercise and after finding a comfortable spot nestled in a pile of pillows, found my word or sound to focus on, repeated that mantra over and over, and slowed my breathing. Afterwards I could tell that I was less tense and had slowed by breathing and my heart rate. For an offender this would be very helpful for those who are quick to get excited, angry, or violent. This will allow the offender to focus on their breathing and allow them the time to calm down and then make a decision on what to do in that situation, without any consequences. The only possible downfall of meditation is it could conflict with the