Forensic Mental Health

NATALIE JONES, PSYD, LPCC®, OF LIFETIME COUNSELING AND CONSULTING® IN OAKLAND, CA OFFERS TREATMENT SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• Have you been involved in the criminal justice system?
• Are you currently involved in a legal proceeding in which your professional license may be revoked if you are convicted?
• Are you stressed out about your upcoming court procedures, and are afraid to go to court?
• Have you been mandated to treatment by the courts?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then chances are you are currently in the stressful situation of going to court or being involved in the criminal justice system. Your innocence or guilt is not the focus of treatment, but rather what led to you being in the situation that you are today, and how you turn your life around and get out this situation, especially when you feel as though the world is against you. You may even feel as though your entire support system is gone, or you are so ashamed that you are unable to talk to anyone about what you have been going through. You have become irritable, isolated, and maybe even self-destructive.  If those issues are not dealt with properly, then emotions may wreak havoc in your mind, causing you to act impulsively and destructively.

Having the threat of your freedom taken away from you can be anxiety provoking and traumatic to say the least. Maybe you feel as though you are misunderstood. You may even feel as though you are in an emotional prison.  I often find it helpful to sit down with clients and discuss why they believe they are where they are today, and what they would like to change. I provide education and support while you are going through the court system.  It is not uncommon for people to become fearful, distressed, impulsive, and destructive while they are going through the court process. Some of the issues that we work on in treatment include:

• Acknowledge the problem
• Identify the symptoms
• Identify the triggers
• Identify how certain behaviors may show up in relationships
• Process the events leading up to offense
• Recommended treatment and outcome