Engaging the Moment with Incarcerated Youth: An Existential–Humanistic Approach

Abstract

Scarce literature is dedicated to practical psychotherapy with incarcerated adolescents. Psychotherapy literature on working with incarcerated adolescents is often discussed within the context of either family-based or cognitive-based psychotherapy. Little literature was found discussing alternative methods of psychotherapy for use with this population. Thus, this articlepresents an alternative orientation—existential–humanistic psychotherapy—as an option forworking with incarcerated adolescents. It is intended as a starting point in which mental health practitioners working with incarcerated adolescents can draw from alternative theoretical orientations. First, current psychotherapeutic orientations and modalities discussed in the literature are reviewed. Second, existential–humanistic psychotherapy is presented and discussed within the context of juvenile offenders. Third, practical case illustrations with transcripts are presented to exemplify the existential–humanistic approach when working with incarcerated adolescents.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I thank Dr. Myrtle Heery and Dr. Charlotte Lewis for their valued and expert feedback in the preparation of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sam Himelstein

Sam Himelstein, Ph.D. is the director of Engaging The Moment, LLC and works with incarcerated youth in the greater San Francisco Bay Area conducting individual, group, and family psychotherapy.