Dr. Judy Mackenzie, a retired psychiatrist and psychotherapist, discusses her career in working with therapeutic communities in prisons. She shares her passion for storytelling and the importance of understanding people's stories in therapy. Dr. Mackenzie talks about her experience starting the first therapeutic community for young offenders in HM Young Offender Institution, Glen Parva, and the challenges she faced in maintaining its success. She also discusses the dynamics and conflicts that can arise within prison therapeutic community teams and the importance of addressing and processing these tensions constructively. Dr. Mackenzie shares her views on the effectiveness of therapeutic communities and the need for a psychodynamic approach and a sense of community and belonging. She also briefly explains psychosynthesis psychotherapy and how it incorporates transpersonal elements. Finally, she reflects on the toll that working in the prison system can take and the importance of self-care.

Keywords

therapeutic communities, prisons, storytelling, psychotherapy, Glen Parva, conflicts, psychodynamic approach, community, psychosynthesis psychotherapy, self-care

Key points;

Therapeutic communities in prisons provide a supportive and transformative environment for offenders.

Addressing and processing conflicts within therapeutic community teams is crucial for their effectiveness.

A psychodynamic approach and a sense of community and belonging are essential in therapeutic communities.

Psychosynthesis psychotherapy incorporates transpersonal elements and focuses on understanding the state of the soul.

Working in the prison system can take a toll, and self-care is important for maintaining emotional balance.