Houses of Healing: A Group Intervention for Grieving Women in Prison

This study examines the impact of female inmate participation in a facilitator-led group on psychosocial (anxiety, depression, self-esteem) and spiritual well-being. A convenience sample of 36 women (21 intervention, 15 comparison) was recruited from a women\u27s prison in the Northeast. Participants in the groups described positive outcomes in the interviews and in the quantitative measurements of anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Trends in the data, however, indicated an additional differential effect related to program involvement for depression and anxiety scores. The spirituality scores were high at all times for both groups, with slight increases over the period of the study. © 2009, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved

Art therapy with incarcerated women who have experienced the death of a loved one

Although the number of women entering prison has continued to soar over the last 2 decades, little attention has been paid to them in health care research. Research with incarcerated women who are grieving has received even less attention. This pilot study was based on the results of previous studies as well as the authors\u27 combined clinical experience in the prison setting and with art therapy. Individual 1-hour art therapy sessions were offered to 8 incarcerated bereaved women for a period of 8 weeks. A variety of materials were used with a specific purpose. The women were interviewed before and after the art therapy was implemented. Seven of the women described positive outcomes following the art therapy intervention and recommended that the program be continued and increased in length. © 2004 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC