Individual psychotherapy

Abstract Providing individual psychotherapy in a carceral setting is a complex challenge, but it serves an important purpose in the treatment of incarcerated persons. Therapists must consider practical issues such as finding adequate space and time for psychotherapy in a busy facility with limited privacy. They must also attend to the unique therapeutic needs of incarcerated patients, recognizing the prevalence of trauma and finding ways to ally with patients despite their guardedness or skepticism about treatment in a carceral setting. Attention to boundaries, therapeutic style, and confidentiality is key. Nihilism in incarcerated populations is abundant, so helping patients to maintain dignity and make meaning of their experiences can have important therapeutic benefits. This chapter describes practical and theoretical considerations for successful psychotherapy in carceral settings.