The Humanism is in the Details: An Insider’s Account of Humanistic Modifications to a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program in a Maximum-Security Prison

Abstract

The cognitive-behavioral and humanistic approaches to treatment are often considered to be inherently at odds with one another, because cognitive-behavioral programs often follow a rigid format whereas humanistic programs explicitly accommodate the individuality of offenders. Drawing on observations from an in-depth, on-site immersion in a prison treatment program, the authors demonstrate that these seemingly disparate approaches can be merged in practice with positive results, particularly when used in conjunction with an emphasis on mature coping skills.