Corrections_Today_November_December_2023_Vol.85_No.6

■ P SYCHOLOGY

Dealing with stress and anxiety Fortunately, correctional workers have access to professional assistance programs, such as EAP, which facilitates access to mental health and legal services. We also have each other. The social support provided by trust ed colleagues and professionals alike affords us the ability to metabolize our daily experiences and frustrations and serves to offset the feelings of isolation and self-doubt in which we are all susceptible. Additionally, research sug gests mindfulness, or the non-judgmental awareness of our moment-to-moment experiences, increases our ability to deliberately observe our surroundings with increased attention. According to MacDonald (2014), “Mindful ness keeps us connected to those around us and helps us to see clearly what is happening in the moment.” (p.151). She further adds, “If we are fully present with our body, thoughts and feelings the ego is calmed and we are better equipped to deal with challenging experiences” (p.151). Correctional environments can be adversarial in na ture, and the levels of stress and anxiety created within the walls can erode our critical thinking skills while allowing complacency to seep into our daily routine. This dangerous combination can expose our vulnerabilities and place us at even higher risk of being the victims of inmate manipulation. There is an old correctional axiom which states, corrections has no speed . Take two steps back and observe/assess the situation — this gives us time to think and then we can con sult, review record and make informed decisions. REFERENCES Allen, B. & Bosta, D. (1981). Games criminals play: How you can profit by knowing them . Sacramento, CA: Rae John Publishers. Elliot, B., & Verdeyen, V. (2002). Game Over! Strategies for Redirecting Inmate Deception . Alexandria, VA: American Correctional Association. MacDonald, P. (2014). Narcissism in the modern world. Psychodynamic Practice , 20, 2 , 144-153. McWilliams, N. (1994). Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process . New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Nick Gwozdziewycz, Psy.D. is a Drug Abuse Program Coordinator in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Melissa Ring, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and has published in the areas of stalking, as well as other forms of interpersonal violence committed against mental health providers.

personal services to correctional workers — they are not our confidants; they do not give us things and they do us no favors. The danger of looking forward to talking with an inmate is that it creates a personal one-on-one situation without our peers’ input or knowledge, which is a terrible situation to be in. Both inmates and correctional workers desire interper sonal interactions and experience an array of emotions. Although normal, in the correctional world this can be dangerous — inmates are never our friends and confi dants! Therefore, it is imperative to observe our own countertransference when interacting with inmates. If we notice such things as feeling good about ourselves, begin looking forward to meeting an inmate one-on-one, develop physical attraction, accept tangible items, or keep secrets from our peers such issues need to be addressed immediately! Correctional worker training consists of deescalating problems, our own included, and the earlier the better. When a correctional worker allows a relationship with an inmate to become unprofessional, the problem escalates. We need to talk to other staff and document ac cordingly. When secrets are made overt, and the inmate(s) know it, we become a harder target, and more difficult to compromise. Inmates will manipulate our emotions and can take advantage of the natural effects of our sympathetic nervous system (SNS). When the SNS is activated (i.e. flight, fight or freeze), or when we are cold, tired, hun gry or in a novel situation we are less likely to observe our own transferences. This increases our vulnerabili ties thereby making us easier targets. However, we can protect ourselves by implementing time-tested solutions including a good night’s sleep, healthy eating, limited alcohol consumption, regular exercise, regular training, having positive work relationships and having a proper work-life balance (e.g., time afforded to interests and re lationships outside of work). Often, we have the benefit of time; meaning in many correctional situations, novel or not, we do not have to make instantaneous decisions. We have the luxury of time — we can use the radio to call for assistance, consult and review policy. Although we can all recite the importance of these fundamental principles, working within a correctional environment is dangerous, unpredictable and the stress it creates is pernicious.

56 — November/December 2023 Corrections Today