Counseling the Criminal Mind
$29.00
Intermediate
Online
Course Abstract
Counseling the Criminal Mind is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines the effects of mass incarceration and provides strategies for reducing criminal behavior.
When events such as mass shootings, acts of terrorism, and familicide occur, one question we might ask ourselves is: What goes through the mind of the perpetrator? In attempting to answer this question, this course will explore the many factors that lead to criminal behavior, including traumatic brain injury, genetic predisposition, sibling behavior, exposure to violent video games, excessive television viewing, alcohol abuse, and social cohesion.
We will then explore the psychological effects of the incarceration experience itself, factors that contribute to criminal behavior, and brain-related and environmental approaches to turn around criminal behavior. Lastly, we will present strategies that you can use in session with your clients to help them make effective changes, find a vocation, decrease feelings of shame while increasing feelings of empathy, and practice mindfulness and self-regulation – all aimed at helping clients turn from a life of crime into one of fulfillment, meaning, and productivity.
Course #21-33 | 2019 | 35 pages | 15 posttest questions
Learning Objectives
- Describe how mass incarceration leads to a cycle of crime and what clinicians can do to break the cycle
- Identify five factors that may lead to criminal behavior
- List three biases that exist in the criminal justice system and two priorities for effective rehabilitation
- Explain the psychological, cognitive, and behavioral effects of incarceration
- Describe two interventions that help reduce the risk of criminal behavior
- List three strategies that clinicians can use in session with clients to help reduce criminal behavior
Course Directions
This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).
Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.
About the Author(s)
CE Information
Counseling
Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135 - Note: New York counselors will receive 2 continuing education credits for completing this self-study course).
Marriage and Family Therapy
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100 - Note: New York MFTs will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).
Nutrition and Dietetics
Professional Development Resources is a CPE Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR #PR001). CPE accreditation does not constitute endorsement by CDR of provider programs or materials. Feedback for this activity can be sent directly to CDR. Professional Development Resources is also a provider with the Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition (#50-1635) and is CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within one week of completion)
Occupational Therapy
Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education (#3159). OT Content Focus - Domain of OT: Performance Skills; OT Process: Evaluation. This program is offered for 0.2 CEU's. The assignment of AOTA CEU's does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy, the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy, and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635, courses are reported within a few days of completion). Participant successfully completed the required assessment component for this activity.
As part of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Approved Provider renewal process, AOTA is requesting that participants of this course complete a short online survey about your continuing education experience with our organization. Completing this survey will enter you into a quarterly drawing for a $100 voucher for AOTA publications or CE. To access the survey go to http://www.aota.org/appsurvey.
Thank you for your participation.
Psychology
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).
School Psychology
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145).
Social Work
Professional Development Resources, #1046, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/12/2022 - 6/12/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion). Professional Development Resources, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664 - Note: New York social workers will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course). Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).
Teaching
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for all programs and content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA Provider #AAUM); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Prior Approval Program); the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145), State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135) and marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100), and the State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664); the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).
Customer Testimonials
I really liked this CE course because it has implications for treating children and adolescents. Therapists are in the unique position of guiding children and their parents toward behaviors that reduce risk factors for risky behaviors and the information presented here has many implications for what direction to take as a therapist.
I found the course objects explained well, interesting and well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the information. It was presented and organized in a manner that held my interest and brought forth new information and research that I greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I enjoyed all of it. The suggestions for therapy were practical and do-able.
This article contained much information that was new to me. The choice of topics was excellent as there was a rage of topics and each one led to the next in theme and content. The course was presented in an objective and compassionate way and included a topic on helping inmates to recover and succeed.
Great course! I feel well prepared to better serve my clients who are transitioning from prison into self-sufficiency.
More Testimonials
Thank you, wonderful course!
Very good,basic intro to this subject matter.
Excellent course! Really interesting and informative!!!
Excellent information regarding a variety of subjects related to incarceration/the criminal mind. Would that everyone had access to this information (which they likely do if they cared to look at it/for the data). Greater knowledge of this in the general population would be wonderful as it may help to break down stigma/racism, etc.
This was an excellent course for me since I counsel with incarcerated and released inmates. I have recommended this course to several of my counselor friends. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this training! As a criminal/correctional psychologist, it provided a lot of great information and insight into our population. The interventions are definitely useful and will be implemented into the individual's treatment plans.
I work as a psychologist with actively incarcerated adult male felons. I appreciated this course because it helped firm up with scientific evidence some of what I've learned working with these men and listening to their stories. It also helped provide me with insight into some patterns I suspected, but didn't know if they were really true. I enjoyed this course. Thank you!
Very informative and interesting read. Interesting to see other countries' researchers' finds. Thanks.
Great course. I’ve worked in prisons for 33 years and this course has shown me how the perception of treating the offender has changed “theoretically,” but not much is the actual prison setting.
This would have been a good course for when I worked in corrections awhile back. Also, the facts in this course support what my observations were while working in the prison.
