Compassion and Mindfulness in California Prisons:
ITP Grad at Department of Corrections
Before enrolling at ITP, Damon Wood (Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology 2009) worked in finance, which he describes as a, "miserable experience that lacked meaning and inspiration. " He also suffered from recurrent major depression for over a decade. In 2003, he had a significant transpersonal experience that resulted in a spontaneous remission from depression and a newfound desire to study transpersonal psychology. Later that year, he enrolled in ITP's residential PhD program, joined what he calls, "the most fabulous cohort in the school's history," and later met the woman he would marry.
While at ITP, Damon recommitted to his meditation practice, studied psychodrama with Harris Clemens, PhD, chaired the Student Liaison Board, and chaired a small committee of students to interview the final four candidates during the presidential search that resulted in hiring our late president, Tom Potterfield. Inspired by his own recovery from depression, Damon studied the impact of transpersonal experiences on clinical depression for his dissertation and graduated in the summer of 2009.
During his last two years at ITP he worked part-time as a pre-doctoral intern with the Catholic Charities adult substance abuse program. There he treated men and women with addiction and mental health disorders who struggled with the legal, financial, and social consequences that often accompany substance dependence. Damon says, "It was great clinical experience and a perfect training ground to prepare me to work within a California prison. Today, I work as an unlicensed staff psychologist for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). " He has completed all his required hours and has passed the EPPP with only one more exam required for licensure.
In the past several months Damon has received inquiries from ITP students who are beginning to think about post-doctorate clinical internships and are curious about working for CDCR. He has written an essay about his experience, and offers it here in the hope that it may be helpful. If after reading this essay you have questions, or even if you're just curious about what working within the prison system can look like, please feel free to contact Damon at drwood6@yahoo.com. (Please use some relevant keywords in the subject line such as "CDCR questions" in case your email is routed to a spam folder. Thank you.)
Working for the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) as a Post-Doctoral Psychologist
I clearly remember the pride I felt in late February 2009, after finishing the first complete draft of my dissertation. Aside from final edits, I was finished. Time to celebrate! That excitement was quickly followed by the sobering realization that I had bills to pay—not least of which were the accumulated student loans whose grace periods would quickly end after my graduation. Like so many others earning internship hours, I had volunteered my time. However, forgoing a paycheck was no longer an option. I was graduating only to search for a decent paying job as an unlicensed post-doc amidst the economic wreckage of the worst recession since the 1930's.
A good friend of mine was completing her post-doctoral training working for CDCR. I remember listening with trepidation to her stories about the inmates and the prison system. But I also knew of other ITP grads who enjoyed working with inmates. With some reservation, I applied. The application process took almost six months and involved several interviews before I was offered a position. I have since been working as a staff psychologist for the Central California Women's Facility (CCWF) for about 16 months, and I can honestly say that I enjoy my job and I derive great value working with most of my clients. The monthly paycheck and health benefits are nice too. I may even be eligible for federal loan repayment.
A prison is a fascinating (and at times surreal) place to work with many unique facets including security, politics, setting, and clinical exposure. Essentially, I have something akin to an outpatient private practice within a prison setting, but I work within a community of other psychologists, psychiatrists, LCSWs, recreation therapists, and custody officers. I have a caseload of 70-80 inmates, and during an average week I provide individual therapy to 24-30 clients, run two groups, and attend 4 hours of clinical meetings/supervision. Clinical issues almost always include trauma and drug dependencies but range from adjustment disorders to psychosis, and from borderline to antisocial personality disorders. It is a diverse population from all racial and economic backgrounds—most are lower socioeconomic status and poorly educated but some are affluent with a college degree. About the only thing the inmates have in common is that they have all committed a felony, but even in their crimes the diversity ranges from shoplifting to first-degree murder.
For those reading this who are about to graduate and might be interested in working for CDCR, the time to start the application process is now. It begins by taking the online "exam" for the "Psychologist-Clinical, CF" position, which can be found here:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Career_Opportunities/HR/OPS/Exams/Exams_Mental/index.html
The exam is not a test but merely a series of questions about your current clinical experience, which will determine if you are an eligible candidate. If you meet the minimum criteria, your name will be placed on a list and every prison you designate will send you announcements when a position is available. Respond to the announcements and cross your fingers for an interview.
A few words about the interview—it is a very formal affair that is about as far from an ITP experience as you will find. This is not the time to share one's personal process about feeling nervous. The interview consists of three psychologists sitting behind a table and one of them saying something like, "Good afternoon. Please sit down. On the table before you is a 3-ring binder. Please open the binder to the first page and read the question as I read it aloud to you. " The questions are all clinical in nature, many have a forensic component, and some can be bewildering. If you are offered a position and you accept then keep your wits about you as you start your new position. You need to be very attentive to security and personal boundaries, and sometimes you need to be as mindful with your colleagues as you do with the inmates. I strongly recommend reading the book, "Games Criminals Play" by B. Allen and D. Bosta.
A final thought: Self-care is very important working in the mental health field, doubly so when working in a prison setting. The days can be long, the work can be intense, and the setting can be stressful. Practices such as yoga and meditation become even more important for your well-being, and basic wellness habits such as regular exercise, good nutrition, plenty of rest, and strong social relationships are necessary to avoid burnout. But the rewards can be profound and extend beyond financial compensation. As much as ITP grads need a good job, the men and women in California prisons need a good ITP psychologist—someone who brings a level of presence, compassion, and mindfulness to a population that has caused immense pain and languishes in incredible suffering. If you have ever wanted to bring light to the depths of Hell, try working as a prison psychologist.
I welcome any questions you may have. You may contact me at: drwood6@yahoo.com.
