How Does an Anti-Carceral Healing Framework Support Trauma-Responsive Care?

Effectively caring for women and gender-diverse individuals impacted by incarceration and injustice requires a model of treatment that is comprehensive, compassionate, and gender-responsive, addressing the intersection of trauma and incarceration. Using an anti-carceral healing framework supports responsible, trauma-responsive care.

The Council on Criminal Justice reports that a majority of women enmeshed in the criminal legal system have experienced childhood trauma, intimate partner violence, and chronic abuse, and they report higher rates of mental health and substance use disorders than men (Source: CCJ, 2024). Yet, both inside and outside jail and prison, behavioral health services often disregard the structural and emotional context of women’s trauma.  

“Many people are frustrated by the disconnect between the interpersonal trauma they have experienced and the trauma of incarceration itself,” says Miriam Goodman, Senior Director of Clinical Care at the Women’s Prison Association (WPA). “The women who come into our care have often already been burdened with harmful labels and stigma imposed by multiple systems, and the mental health system can sometimes reinforce that harm through misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis. Anti-carceral healing recognizes incarceration as part of a person’s trauma history, reduces stigma, and connects people with trauma-responsive care that supports healing of the whole person.” 

The Role of Anti-Carceral Healing in Criminal Justice Reform

Anti-carceral healing addresses the root cause of issues justice-impacted individuals face, replacing punishment with rehabilitation. It emphasizes a restorative and transformative approach that challenges punishment-based models (Source: Resilience Psychological Services). Under a healing framework, care teams and clients work collaboratively to create individualized service plans. This structure gives clients the opportunity to have agency over the care they receive.  

“An anti-carceral healing framework acknowledges that many people have experienced harm both before and during their involvement with the criminal legal system,” Goodman says. “Rather than defining someone by their incarceration or diagnosis, it takes a whole-person approach that recognizes their full history, strengths, relationships, and goals. That perspective allows us to provide care that truly meets people where they are.” 

How Does Anti-Carceral Healing Make a Difference During Reentry?

The opportunity to access specialized resources before, during, and after incarceration plays a key role in helping justice-impacted women heal. 

WPA connects clients to structured support through all stages of their interaction with the criminal legal system. Reentry, the transition of returning to the community after jail or prison, is a big step towards stabilization and healing for justice-impacted women. Connecting clients to the programs and resources they need to stabilize in the community and thrive improves outcomes when paired with trauma-responsive counseling as they move away from systems that frequently jeopardize their physical and mental health.  

“There are so many emotions and excitement when someone is released from jail or prison. It’s a really big thing that should be celebrated,” Goodman said. “Our work is to provide love and support for people who have been through the system. Every day we show up for people through the ups and downs, creating a relationship where it’s safe for someone to ask questions and begin to understand the way that systems deeply affect their functioning.”  

How Can Clinical Service Providers Put Anti-Carceral Healing into Practice?

“Being trauma-responsive means being able to understand people’s thoughts, emotions, feelings, and reactions in a context,” Goodman said. “Within that context, we as providers provide more healing and understanding for the experiences of individuals who have been harmed by systems.” 

“Our clinical care and care management teams work together to provide constant support to everyone who walks through our doors. Every day, we connect clients to someone they can safely and reliably talk to about the impact of what they’ve been through or are going through while accessing the essential care and services they need.” 

Women impacted by incarceration and injustice have complex needs that require a thoughtful and dedicated response. WPA’s trauma-responsive, evidence-based practices help move the lives of justice-impacted women forward to safety and stability.