Feminist Therapy with Incarcerated Women: Practicing Subversion in Prison

Abstract

Feminist psychotherapy is essential to the well-being of women of marginalized women, especially incarcerated women. Although some feminist principles have been applied to programming for women in prison, major feminist inroads have yet to be made into correctional systems. There is a need for a shift to an activist feminist paradigm of “corrections” to transform women's correctional facilities into rehabilitative environments. This article describes the characteristics of incarcerated women and issues of mental health care in prisons, explains some of the challenges of conducting feminist therapy in prisons, and presents strategies for feminist therapists involved in this transformative endeavor.