Making Meaning of Life Behind Bars: Utilizing ACT with Offenders Sentenced to Life Without Parole
Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
John McNeill
Second Advisor
Lynett Henderson Metzger
Third Advisor
Nikki Johnson
Keywords
Adults, Forensic, Correctional psychology, Incarceration, Life-sentence, Life without parole
Abstract
According to the Sentencing Project (2017), as of 2016, 53,290 people were serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. Despite the high prevalence rate, these offenders have limited access to therapeutic programs, training, and education, as those are reserved for individuals who need to be “rehabilitated” because they will eventually be released. As a result of their life-long sentences, these offenders face numerous stressors and challenges, which are left unaddressed given their limited access to supportive services. Existing research demonstrates that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is effective in motivating values-consistent action in the presence of unwanted experiences that had previously blocked such action. Thus, this conceptual paper suggests the clinical implications of utilizing ACT with offenders sentenced to life without parole, as a means to create meaning in their lives, despite living out their days behind bars.
Publication Statement
Copyright held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
40 pgs
Recommended Citation
Neddenriep, Jaclyn, "Making Meaning of Life Behind Bars: Utilizing ACT with Offenders Sentenced to Life Without Parole" (2019). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 346.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/346