Personal Story
While working as a Lead Crisis Counselor (LCC), I experienced the effects of life coaching on prisoners at the local jail facility firsthand. Part of my responsibilities as the LCC was to occasionally counsel inmates who were experiencing flash-backs or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from past abuse. Each session with an inmate was approximately one hour – usually one session per inmate. At the time I took the position as LCC, those in my position were typically asked to counsel inmates approximately 4 to 6 times a year.
After counseling a couple of inmates over a three month period, I started to feel uncomfortable leaving the sessions with the inmate feeling hurt and vulnerable with no closure in sight. Although I had no personal knowledge or understanding of what life coaching was all about at that time, I used my instincts and started conducting my own mini-life coaching sessions at the end of each counseling session. I asked questions such as, “If you could do anything in your life, what would your life look like?” “What is the first thing you could do to make your dream a reality?”
I was amazed to see an immediate difference in the behavior and countenance of the prisoners. Instead of ending the sessions depressed and in tears, the prisoners wore a smile and felt empowered. They had something to look forward to and a positive focus in their life. I told the inmates to envision what they wanted out of life; see it . . . feel it . . . and believe it. After a couple of months, I started getting called back for repeat sessions. Instead of meeting with prisoners once a month, I was called out once a week on Mondays on a regular basis. At one point, I was booked up for two months in advance. I was told by administration that the inmates really appreciated my efforts and said that I was making a big difference in their lives. During the next yearly audit, the company I was employed with documented that they had established a new partnership with the local jail.
At that point, I believed I had found my true calling. I quickly resigned from my position as LCC and enrolled in the International Coach Academy in order to pursue my dream of becoming a life coach; I am now in the process of earning certification. One of the inmates I coached at the jail was moved to another location; however, before he left, he requested that I stay in touch with him by mail. Administration told me that he said “the coaching had done wonders for him and he wanted to continue the positive influence in his life.” I agreed to keep in touch with him and currently correspond back and forth with the inmate on a regular basis. In the meantime, my offer has been accepted by administration to continue supporting the inmates at the local jail by volunteering my time as a life coach.
Summary
Recidivism will continue to increase if prisoners are released with the same mindset in which they entered the system. Without self-examination, a mind will not change and behavior remains constant. To make matters worse, most of the prisoners are released into the same environment that helped to cause the problems in the first place – drugs, physical/sexual abuse, homelessness, poor education, and lack of support from friends and family. Prisoners are the “lost children” of society and the ones that often need support the most.
In the author’s view, life coaching is the missing link in prisoner reform. As this paper shows, some states are beginning to change their stance on reformation techniques and some enterprises are embracing life coaching as the key to reducing the recidivism rate. One can only hope that the trend continues and the benefits of life coaching are finally realized and integrated into every prison reform system worldwide.
References
Coaching the Global Village. (2014). A life coaching program for ex-offenders.
http://coachingtheglobalvillage.org/in-the-news/a-life-coaching-program-for-ex- offenders/
Drug Addiction Treatment. (2014). Why get your loved one a life coach in prison?
http://www.drugaddictiontreatment.com/addiction-in-the-news/drug-crimes/life-coach-prison/
Kelly, K. (2013).Coaching behind the wall.
Life to the Brim. (2014).Inmate re-entry program. http://lifetothebrim.com/inmate-re-entry/
Schinkel, M., & Whyte, B. (2012). Routes out of prison using life coaches to assist resettlement. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 51(4), 359-371.doi:10.1111/j.1468-2311.2012.00724.x
Warren, R.K. (2007).Evidence-based practice to reduce recidivism: Implications for state judiciaries. Retrieved from https://www.wicourts.gov/courts/programs/docs/cjijudicialpaperfinal.pdf