ABSTRACT
One of the big obstacles correctional institutions need to address is the unending rise of mental illness—either through the escalating arrest and incarceration of the mentally ill or the degradation of mental well-being of those inside. The cumulative effects of trauma are brought about by the overcrowded facilities and their resultant lack of privacy, stress, abuse, inadequate health care, and poor support. In addition, prison inmates are burdened with derogatory and unshakeable labels resulting in poor sympathy from society at large. Poor mental health is the unavoidable consequence. Yet it is increasingly difficult to provide services in an environment where survival of the fittest is the credo and identified weaknesses and vulnerabilities may be taken advantage of. In order to succeed, therapists need to be armed with tools to address the inmates’ distrust, inherent aggression, and potentially damaged cognitive abilities. While conventional therapies may be risky in how they rely on verbal disclosures, art therapy has been effective in addressing the needs of the clients by its ability to bypass these survival-based defenses. This chapter explores in detail the various benefits of art therapy and provides a succinct overview on why art therapy is clinically advantageous over other therapeutic approaches for those inside.
