Therapeutic Modalities Module 6

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES MODULE 6
UNIT 7– EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
Upon his initial commitment to the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC), the
inmate’s medical history is recorded and properly documented by the Medical
Specialist. Medical information and mental status examinations are given to ascertain
his overall physical / mental fitness and whether he would be fit for work. This forms
part of the diagnostic process which will eventually determine the most appropriate
rehabilitation program for the inmate.
The principal medical care of inmates is provided through a 500-bed capacity hospital
at the New Bilibid Prisons and at six (6) other mini-hospitals or clinics in the six (6)
other prison and penal farms. All correctional facilities have a full and competent staff
of medical practitioners in charge of clinics, infirmaries and hospitals. These centers
are capable of minor surgical operations, laboratory examinations, radiology,
psychiatric, rehabilitation and dental treatment.
Other government and private hospitals are also tapped in the implementation of
standards pertaining to nutrition and protective health services for the prison
community. Medical services also include a wide range of counseling techniques and
therapy programs which address the psychological problems of inmates, including
suicidal thoughts and feelings of rejection which may lead to disruption of peace and
order within the prison compounds. When an inmate’s ailment is beyond the
competence of the in-house medical doctors, the inmate is referred to a government
hospital in accordance with prison rules and under proper security escorts.
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL TREATMENT
1. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY. Psychological therapies provided in jails,

prisons, or forensic hospitals may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT, with or without
criminal thinking curriculum) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT aims to build cognitive
skills and replace distorted cognitions (self- justificatory thinking, displacement of blame, schemas
of dominance and entitlement) with noncriminal thought patterns. DBT was originally designed to
treat chronically parasuicidal women with borderline personality disorder, but has been adapted
to other populations, including offenders with severe mental illness. DBT combines traditional
combines the basic strategies of CBT with Eastern mindfulness practices
2. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIC THERAPIES. If a correctional facility houses inmates with SMI,

antipsychotic, antidepressant, and mood-stabilizing medications must be included in the
medication formulary.Further, “all correctional formulary policies must include a mechanism to
access non-formulary medications on a case-by-case basis to ensure access to appropriate
treatment for serious mental illness.”However, special conditions in correctional
3. facilities such as high rates of substance use disorders require that formularies limit or exclude
medications that have a high potential for misuse or abuse. In most correctional facilities, a
psychiatrist and other mental health professionals must be involved in the development of the
institution’s formulary.
4. SPECIALIZED HOUSING. Includes self-contained mental health units for the care of inmates
with SMI who are unable to function in the general population.Specialized housing options may
vary from facility to facility (e.g., jail to prison or prison to prison), but include inpatient care, short-
term crisis beds, and long-term residential units.
5. INTEGRATED DUAL DISORDERS TREATMENT (IDDT). The same treatment team treats both
addiction and SMI simultaneously. The substance abuse treatment is tailored to people with
mental illness. Individuals are taught how mental health and substance abuse disorders interact.
This approach utilizes CBT.
6. TELEMEDICINE/TELEPSYCHIATRY. Telemedicine is becoming an increasingly common mode

of delivery for psychological/ and psychiatric services. Treatment is delivered by way of
videoconferencing.
UNIT 8 – Intellectual and Spiritual
Inmates enjoy freedom of religion. All inmates are free to observe the rituals of their
faith, with orderly conduct supervised by prison authorities. A religious guidance
adviser or chaplain is assigned in every prison and penal farm. The prison chaplain
sets the stage for every regular spiritual activity.
He is an officer of the institution who oversees the operation of the prison chapel. He
is not only the spiritual leader but also a counselor and adviser. Prisoners may be
baptized or given other sacraments. Religious Volunteer Officers, or RVOs belonging
to different church groups provide weekly religious activities ranging from bible
studies, devotions, prayer meetings or praise and worship. With a predominantly
Roman Catholic prison population, a Catholic Mass is a regular feature in spiritual
activities of the prison communities. Restrictions, however, are imposed if, in the
course of religious activities, security is compromised or a program is too expensive.
UNIT 9 – Vocational And Survival Skills

EDUCATION AND SKILLS TRAINING
Rehabilitation can be facilitated by improving an inmate’s academic and

job skills. Records show that many prisoners are poorly educated. A
majority are elementary school drop outs or have not even finished
primary school. Prison education amounts to remedial schooling designed
to prepare
inmates to obtain basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics.

In most correctional facilities, vocational programs are incorporated into job
assignments and serve as on- the-job training. The goal is to provide
inmates with skills that will improve their eligibility for jobs upon release.
Most prison vocational training is geared toward traditional blue-collar
employment in areas such as electronics, auto mechanics and handicrafts.
At the Reception and Diagnostic Center, a basic computer literacy course
with typing as a support course is available for inmates who have finished
at least high school level.
Vocational training and social education focus on job readiness. The
concern in these areas is life skills. If inmates are to reenter society and
abstain from criminal activity, they must be employable and have the basic
tools necessary to function as responsible citizens.
The National Penitentiary has a college degree program and a tertiary
degree correspondence course, in addition to the regular secondary and
compulsory basic literacy classes. Prisoners are strongly encouraged by
the BuCor authorities to enroll while serving their sentence and to advance
their academic skills.
SPORTS AND RECREATION
The inmates enjoy sunrise by participating in daily calisthenics. There are various
indoor and outdoor sports activities, programs, tournaments and leagues all year
round, to include basketball, volleyball, billiards, table tennis and chess. These sports
competitions promote camaraderie among inmates, good sportsmanship and team-
building. The latest addition is the newly constructed indoor sports center/gymnasium
at the Maximum Security Compound which boasts of competition-standard flooring,
sound system, locker rooms and bleachers.
All prison and penal farms have adequate recreational facilities for inmates, both for
outdoor and indoor sports. Mini-bodybuilding gyms are available in most prison
facilities, including the Muntinlupa Juvenile Training Center and the Therapeutic
Community Center for inmates with drug cases.
For music lovers and musically-inclined inmates, numerous "videoke" centers are
available. Musical instruments are available for practice or for use in variety shows.
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY (TC) PROGRAM
The Therapeutic Community (TC) Program represents an effective, highly structured

environment with defined boundaries, both moral and ethical. The primary goal is to
foster personal growth. This is accomplished by re-shaping an individual’s behavior
and attitudes through the inmates? community working together to help themselves
and each other, restoring self confidence, and preparing them for their re-integration
into their families and friends as productive members of the community.
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Patterned after Daytop TC, New York which is the base of the Therapeutic
Community movement in the world, the BuCor TC program was adopted as part of
the Bureau's holistic approach towards inmate rehabilitation. It is implemented
primarily but not limited to drug dependents.
The TC approach has been continuously proven worldwide as an effective treatment

and rehabilitation modality among drug dependents, and have been noted to be
effective in many prisons. By immersing a drug offender in the TC environment, he
learns why he had developed his destructive habits, which led him to substance
abuse. The program modifies negative behavior and or attitudes while restoring self
confidence, and prepares inmates for their re-integration into their families and friends
as productive members of the community. This behavioral modification program
gradually re-shapes or re-structures the inmate within a family-like environment,
wherein every member acts as his brother’s keeper.
As TC family members go on with their daily activities, a strong sense of responsibility

and concern for each other’s welfare are developed. They are constantly being
monitored for their progress and are regularly being evaluated by the TC-trained staff.
The TC process allows for genuine introspection, cultivation of self-worth and positive
rationalization that move the individual towards assuming a greater sense of personal
and moral responsibility.
The efforts of the Bureau of Corrections to rehabilitate Drug dependents under its
care using the TC approach is in line with its commitment to create a Drug-Free
Prison. Worldwide developments in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug offenders
using this therapeutic community approach have been noted to be effective in many
prisons.
WORK AND LIVELIHOOD
The Bureau offers a variety of inmate work programs, from agricultural to industrial.
The purpose of the inmate work program is to keep the inmates busy, and to provide
them money for their personal expenses and their families as well as help them
acquire livelihood skills, in order that they may become productive citizens once they
are released and assimilated back into the mainstream of society.
Different prison and penal farms provide institutional work programs for inmates. At
the Davao Penal Colony, inmates work on the banana plantations of Tagum
Development Company (TADECO) which has a joint venture agreement with the
Bureau. Similarly, the vast tracts of land at the Iwahig Penal Colony are developed
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and tilled by inmates to produce various agricultural products, thereby generating
income for the Bureau. The Sablayan Prison and Penal farm also provides agriculture
and aquaculture programs for inmates.
Along this end, the Bureau under the present Director has encouraged agricultural
and industrial production by providing farming implements, tractors, fertilizers and
other inputs in order to sustain this area of rehabilitation for inmates.
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THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES MODULE 6

UNIT 7– EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL

1. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY. Psychological therapies provided in jails,

2. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIC THERAPIES. If a correctional facility houses inmates with SMI,

6. TELEMEDICINE/TELEPSYCHIATRY. Telemedicine is becoming an increasingly common mode

UNIT 9 – Vocational And Survival Skills

Rehabilitation can be facilitated by improving an inmate’s academic and

inmates to obtain basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics.

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY (TC) PROGRAM

The Therapeutic Community (TC) Program represents an effective, highly structured

The TC approach has been continuously proven worldwide as an effective treatment

As TC family members go on with their daily activities, a strong sense of responsibility

WORK AND LIVELIHOOD

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