An overview of evidence-based therapeutic components that aid in the reduction of the rate of return or recidivism of ex-offenders going back to prison.

1. How do ex-convicts stop offending? Presented by: Malinda D. Wilson

3. Most want to turn their lives around. Families are a key motivation They want to live with their families, take care of their children, work, and stay out of trouble (Irwin and Austin, 1994; McMurray, 1993: 153). Despite their hopes, many fail (Richards, 1995). The desire to have a changed life presents itself especially during the hot periods: arrest, court appearance, sentencing, incarceration.

7. Need to understand: Social Control Theory Crime occurs as a result of weakened bonds to society. Social bonds help restrain deviant impulses. Social bonds to family, school, work, church &positive peers prevent crime. If weak, they can produce criminal behavior. (Crime in the Life Course, 2003)

8. What is Interpersonal Therapy It utilizes the best of Cognitive Training in Restructuring Maladaptive Thinking patterns. It takes into consideration, each individuals’ current Stage of Change and level of Social Support It uses Motivational Interviewing Techniques to move the person toward action, including development of stronger social supports. It’s like a laboratory for client’s to experiment new behaviors, strategies, ideas, & ways of communicating

10. How Accessing Stage Works: Traditional interventions often assume that individuals are ready for an immediate and permanent behavior change. Not true… Each stage corresponds to an individual's readiness to change, which will vary over time. By matching an intervention to the appropriate stage (or readiness), program designers improve chances of success. Another important and innovative contribution of Stages of Change is its emphasis on maintaining change.

12. The Relationship between Stage and both Self-efficacy and Temptation

13. Motivational Interviewing Works: MI relies upon the client to identify and mobilize their values and goals to stimulate behavior change . Other approaches have emphasized coercion, persuasion, or the use of external contingencies (e.g., the threatened loss of job or family). Such strategies may have their place in evoking change, but they are quite different in spirit from MI. It is the client's task, not the counselor's, to articulate and resolve his or her ambivalence . Ambivalence takes the form of a conflict between two courses of action (e.g., indulgence versus restraint), each of which has perceived benefits and costs associated with it. Many clients have never had the opportunity of expressing the often confusing, contradictory and uniquely personal elements of this conflict. The counselor's task is to facilitate expression of both sides of the ambivalence impasse, and guide the client toward an acceptable resolution that triggers change. Readiness to change is not a client trait, but a fluctuating product of interpersonal interaction . The therapist is therefore highly attentive and responsive to the client's motivational signs. The therapeutic relationship is more like a partnership or companionship than expert/recipient or teacher/student roles .

17. Mentoring Works: Success is more likely when clients can locate, solicit and develop a social support network. Client’s learn how successful people develop accountability structures, healthy friendships and networks This increases practical knowledge, work and career opportunity, interpersonal and spiritual development.