Art Therapy as a Healing Practice in US Prisons

In the United States, nearly one in every 100 people are currently incarcerated in a jail or prison (Wagner & Bertram 2020). Nearly 75% of individuals who are released from prison are rearrested within five years from the end of their previous punishment (Li 2018).  What if the prison system was more than a system of punishment — what if it prepared the individual to re-enter mainstream society? Prison systems in the US need to integrate more effective rehabilitative programs that improve incarceration rates and reduce recidivism rates.  But are these types of programs truly effective for incarcerated individuals?  

Prison inmates experience high levels of poor mental health compared to the general population (Reingle et al. 2014). Data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities indicated that 26% of prisoners were diagnosed with a mental health condition, but the vast majority were unable to take appropriate medication while incarcerated (Reingle et al. 2014). Depression is the most common mental illness, followed by anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (Reingle et al. 2014). Additional research shows that therapy services offered within prison are poor quality and that psychologists and psychiatrists are limited at prison facilities  (Erikson, 2008:2, Gussak, 2007:445, Reingle et al. 2014).  What kinds of therapy services will be effective in improving inmate mental health?  This is where we will witness the true effectiveness of art therapy in a prison setting.

Art therapy is a healing practice used to improve “self-esteem and self-awareness [and] cultivate emotional resilience” (AATA 2017). While art therapy can be practiced anywhere, the prison environment as a restrictive space makes art therapy as a coping mechanism all the more necessary for incarcerated individuals (Erikson, 2008:2, Ferszt et al. 2004: 192).  For example, instead of physically expressing anger in a given situation — a punishable action — participants instead create art that expresses their anger without fear of consequence (Ferszt et al. 2004:192). Inmates who created art had fewer disciplinary reports filed on average, demonstrating the impact art can have on both behavioral well-being (Gussak, 2007:445). Another benefit is that art therapy is inclusive of all inmates, regardless of their art experience, education, or language (Gussak, 2007:445). Finally, art therapy promotes creative thinking and provides emotional escape from a harsh environment (Erikson, 2008:3).

 As a marginalized subset of the prison population, incarcerated women face an overwhelming amount of challenges in a system dominated by men. One important aspect is dealing with loss. The prison environment does not allow space to grieve privately and women in prison “have limited opportunity to have their grief validated…or socially supported” (Ferszt et al. 2004:191). Many of their struggles in dealing with grief result from the direct clash of their incarcerated identity with mainstream society. For example, while these women have the opportunity to attend the funeral of their loved one in person, they are only able to attend in their prison uniform and accompanied by security guards, which women have described as “a demeaning and humiliating experience” (Ferszt et al. 2004:191). 

Ferszt et al. conducted a study that followed eight women in a prison in the United States and their participation in an art therapy program for eight weeks. All participants experienced the death of a loved one and were participating to help cope with grief. Art therapy sessions were structured to build on themes of loss, belonging, and emotional support (Ferszt et al. 2004:191). The first week explored the building of trust and discussion was generated by having the women draw pictures of bridges to tell a story. Drawing bridges helped “assess the strength of [each woman’s] support systems [and] any threats she was experiencing” (Ferszt et al. 2004:193). Findings indicated seven out of the eight of the women found art therapy helpful for their mental health, resulting in recommended continuation of the program (Ferszt et al. 2004:191). Though there has been little research of the impact of art therapy with incarcerated women, the research speaks volumes for the value that art therapy can hold with vulnerable populations.  But where can we find successful art therapy programs in US prisons?

In 2020, the Florida State University (FSU) Art Therapy Program collaborated with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) to launch a new prison art therapy program that would help incarcerated young adults earn their General Education Degree while improving their mental health (Prentiss 2020). The use of professional art therapists in prisons allows the field of art therapy to become more defined in the prison system. This program also allows FSU art students to participate in an arts teaching practicum working directly with the incarcerated community (Prentiss 2020).

Art therapy is a successful mechanism for healing and exploration.  It is versatile, inclusive, and has been effective even in the bleakest of situations. Findings from long-time art therapy teacher Dave Gussak (2007) has shed valuable perspectives on how impactful making art can be. In addition, research by Ferszt et al. (2004) demonstrated how these methods can be applied towards marginalized groups in the prison setting. All research findings (Erikson 2008, Gussak 2007, Ferszt 2004)  have pointed to continuing art therapy as a common practice in prisons, and how something as simple as creating images can drastically improve mental and emotional well being, taking one more step to improve the flawed criminal justice system in the US.

References

2017. “About Art Therapy.” American Art Therapy Association. Retrieved February 22, 2021. 

Erikson, Bonnie. 2008. “Art Therapy Treatment with Incarcerated Women.” Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019.

Ferszt, Ginette, Pamela Hayes, Susanne DeFedele, and Linda Horn. 2004. “Art Therapy with Incarcerated Women Who Have Experienced the Death of a Loved One.” Journal of the American Art Therapy Association 21(4):191–99.

Gussak, David. 2007. “The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in Reducing Depression in Prison Populations.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 51(4):444–60. doi: 10.1177/0306624X06294137.

Li, Melissa. 2018. “From Prisons to Communities: Confronting Re-Entry Challenges and Social Inequality.” Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved February 7, 2021.

Prentiss, Anna. 2020. “Florida State University Art Therapy Partners with Florida Department of Corrections to Launch Prison Program.”

Reingle Gonzalez, Jennifer M., and Nadine M. Connell. 2014. “Mental Health of Prisoners: Identifying Barriers to Mental Health Treatment and Medication Continuity.” American Journal of Public Health 104(12):2328–33. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302043.

Wagner, Peter, and Wanda Bertram. 2020. “‘What Percent of the U.S. Is Incarcerated?’ (And Other Ways to Measure Mass Incarceration).” Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved February 21, 2021.

Image Credits

Reese, Jon. 2017. “Expressive Art Therapy.” From Carleton College Voice.  Retrieved March 3, 2021.

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