Therapeutics of despair in the prison setting

Gee, Joanna; Loewenthal, Del; Cayne, Julia

doi:10.1080/13642537.2011.625201

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This makes sense, of course, because therapy cannot prevent the experience of loss of meaning in life. Therapy only helps clients find new ways to deal with this loss and eventually to find new meanings (Gee et al, 2011). Future studies could explore whether and how therapy might support posttraumatic growth—the occurrence of fundamental shifts in one’s meaning system and a different relationship toward one’s self and others (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004)—during incarceration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Religion and spirituality are often described as important coping strategies in dealing with prison distress (e.g., Mandhouj, Aubin, Amirouche, Perroud, & Huguelet, 2014; Maschi, Viola, & Morgen, 2014; Nedderman, Underwood, & Hardy, 2010; Schneider & Feltey, 2009). Qualitative and theoretical studies describe psychotherapy as an important way for prisoners to process the losses that result from incarceration and ultimately find new ways to experience meaning in life (e.g., Braswell & Wells, 2014; Ferrito, Vetere, Adshead, & Moore, 2012; Gee, Loewenthal, & Cayne, 2011; Mapham & Hefferon, 2012; Worthington, Hook, Davis, & McDaniel, 2011).…”

Section: Does Imprisonment Provoke Loss Of Meaning?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Loss of Meaning as a Predictor of Distress in Prison

Vanhooren

Leijssen

Dezutter

2015

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol

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Incarceration has been described as a distressing experience, marked by important losses and accompanied by deep existential crises. Some prisoners "hit rock bottom" and are confronted with the fact that their life does not make sense anymore. Surprisingly, loss of meaning among prisoners has not been studied in a quantitative way before. In this study, we explored the relationship between loss of meaning inflicted by incarceration and distress. In a sample of 365 prisoners, univariate analyses and hierarchical multiple regression analyses confirmed that a loss of meaning positively predicted distress in prison. Differences between prison regimes predicted distress, but had no influence on the loss of meaning. Unsentenced incarceration, in contrast, did not have a direct relationship to distress, but amplified the effect of loss of meaning on distress. Psychotherapy and chaplain support did not affect the relationship between loss of meaning and distress during incarceration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Does Imprisonment Provoke Loss Of Meaning?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of Meaning as a Predictor of Distress in Prison

Vanhooren

Leijssen

Dezutter

2015

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol

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“…In exploring the psychotherapist's experience of working with despair in the prison setting, Gee et al (2011) interviewed ten psychotherapists using interviews in gaining descriptions of their experience of their work with despair. In turn, the analysis of the interviews enabled a specific and a general structure outlining the meanings emerging from the participants descriptions.…”

Section: Results Vs Ethicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Researching the psychological therapies in prison: considerations and future recommendations

Gee

Bertrand-Godfrey²

2014

International Journal of Prisoner Health

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“…This reminds us of Kierkegaard's conviction that one's essence becomes clear when one experiences (and doesn't avoid experiencing) despair (Gee, Loewenthal, & Cayne, 2011). In order to become aware of one's essence, Kierkegaard adds, an inner exploration of one's self is indispensable (Scholtens, 1978).…”

Section: Meaninglessness As a Shared Experiencementioning

confidence: 98%

Struggling with meaninglessness: a case study from an experiential–existential perspective

Vanhooren

2019

Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies

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Meaninglessness is one of the biggest threats of our era. Meaninglessness is not only one of the possible symptoms of depression; meaninglessness as such is a complex experience which can be identified at a micro-dimensional felt sensed level, as a meaning gap at a mesodimensional narrative level, and as groundlessness at a macro-dimensional existential level.Person-centered therapies have explicitly focused on the micro-and meso-dimension of meaning; existential therapies have emphasized the macro-dimensions by helping their clients to face the existential givens such as meaninglessness and meaning. In this article we explore how experiential-existential psychotherapy could help clients in dealing with meaninglessness by addressing this experience with micro-, meso-, and macro-dimensional interventions. A case study reveals how all meaning-dimensions are important, but not at any moment. The client concludes the therapy with discovering what is most essential to him in life. From this experience he finds the courage to engage with life at the fullest, whether it is ultimately meaningful or not.

show abstract

Therapeutics of despair in the prison setting

Cited by 9 publications

References 29 publications

Loss of Meaning as a Predictor of Distress in Prison

Loss of Meaning as a Predictor of Distress in Prison

Researching the psychological therapies in prison: considerations and future recommendations

Struggling with meaninglessness: a case study from an experiential–existential perspective

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