Program Goals
Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma are two interactive, gender-responsive curricula designed for drug-dependent women, under the supervision of the criminal justice system. Both curricula use cognitive–behavioral approaches; experiential therapies (such as guided imagery and art therapy); mindfulness meditation; and psychoeducational, relational, and expressive arts techniques that are compatible with women’s interactional styles. The goal is to demonstrate the need to implement gender-specific treatment programs to improve outcomes for females.
In San Diego County (California), the gender-responsive approaches to treatment were provided in a drug court setting in addition to the regular drug court standards of care. Drug court programs in San Diego combine intensive supervision, mandatory drug testing, graduating sanctions, and community-based treatment for eligible females, to break the cycle of addiction and repeated criminal activity. Standard drug court treatment usually includes men and women, and does not incorporate gender-specific elements of treatment for women. The gender-responsive (GR) treatment approaches enhanced the regular standards of care provided by drug courts by being female-only and facilitated only by women, and using the Helping Women Recover and Beyond Trauma treatment curricula.
Program Components
Helping Women Recover (2008) is a 17-session program organized into four modules.
- Self module: topics that are discussed by women in the program include discovering what the “self” is; learning about addiction as a disorder within the self; self-esteem; effects of sexism, racism, and stigma on sense of self; and how recovery includes growth of the self.
- Relationship module: topics include exploring roles in their families of origin, discussing motherhood and the women’s relationships with their mothers, relationship histories, and building healthy support systems.
- Sexuality module: topics include exploring connections between addiction and sexuality, and discussing body image, sexual identity, sexual abuse, and fear of sex when sober.
- Spirituality module: topics include concepts of spirituality, prayer, and meditation.
The Beyond Trauma (2003) curriculum focuses on assisting women in understanding what has occurred in the past that has been traumatizing. Using a strengths-based approach, 11 sessions are condensed into three specific target areas: teaching women about trauma and abuse, helping them understand typical reactions to trauma and abuse, and developing coping skills.
In addition, women in the GR treatment programs received copies of Covington’s A Woman’s Way through the Twelve Steps (2000) and Women in Recovery: Understanding Addiction (2002). The first book helps women understand the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The second is an interactive workbook meant to be used as an educational journal during treatment.
Program Theory
Research on women and offending suggests that gender matters; and that, therefore, gender-specific programming is important for females. For example, according to the pathways theory (Steffensmeier and Allen 1998) there are “profound differences” between the lives of women and men that shape criminal offending patterns. This research has identified key issues such as trauma and abuse, mental illness early in life, substance abuse and addiction, homelessness, and relationships that produce and sustain female criminality.
Furthermore, female development is also a pivotal factor in female criminality. As explained in the relational theory (Miller 1976), females develop a sense of self and self-worth through connections with others. In relation to drug offense, women are more likely to turn to drug use in the context of relationships with drug-abusing partners in order to feel connected (Covington and Bloom 2006).
