Houses of Healing

The Houses of Healing Program is a course in emotional literacy and skill-building based on a belief in the intrinsic dignity and worth of each person. The course is designed to teach emotional regulation techniques, foster emotional and spiritual growth and encourage responsibility and accountability for oneself and toward others.

History

The Houses of Healing program helps inmates to identify, express and manage their feelings. It fosters self-understanding, emotional and spiritual growth along with encouraging responsibility and accountability toward one’s self and others.

The Houses of Healing program is based on the book, Houses of Healing, a Prisoner’s Guide to Inner Power and Freedom, by Robin Casarjian. The Houses of Healing program has run nationally and internationally for the last two decades, with significant positive results.

In line with the April 2014 CT DOC Mission and Vision statement*, this evidence-based program uses mindfulness-based practices and research driven approaches for supporting participants in law-abiding and accountable behaviors, emotional and spiritual maturity, and tools and resources to make positive changes for transition back into the community.

The Houses of Healing Program is a course in emotional literacy skill-building based on the belief of the intrinsic dignity and worth of each person. The course is designed to teach emotional regulation techniques, foster emotional and spiritual growth and encourage responsibility and accountability for oneself and toward others.

The purpose of the program is to increase participants’ self-knowledge and their ability to relate effectively to others, while strengthening their personal accountability.

This is approached through helping participants create meaningful narratives of their lives, working toward healing experiences of trauma and grief, and learning emotional regulation practices such as relaxation and meditation.

Since 2014, at least twelve 13-week classes have been held in both medium and maximum security units, with approximately 200 women participating.

Houses of Healing offers an accepting, respectful, and non-judgmental context in which participants are safe to learn, feel, and tell the truth.

The fundamentals of cultivating dignity are woven into every aspect of every class. Each session includes both didactic and experiential components.

Participants work on increased focus on self-control capacities such as managing anger and developing positive coping strategies.
Houses of Healing opened me up to a side of myself I had forgotten. It taught me different ways of coping and having the knowledge that I’m not alone. I have gotten more out of this group than all of the groups.

One of the most valuable lessons was to not let my past, my mistakes, my behaviors hold me back from change and a positive tomorrow. . . . You also taught me about true forgiveness and how freeing it really is – to forgive others and ourselves. I can work on self-improvement much easier when I am not so hard on myself about my past.

When I feel things, I can heal.

*CT DOC Mission Statement: The Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

*CT DOC Vision statement: Re-victimization is reduced by providing offenders the tools and resources to make positive changes for a successful transition back into the community.

A Sacred Place, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to providing rehabilitative programs and educational opportunities for incarcerated women in Connecticut.

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Contact

A Sacred Place, Inc.
P.O. Box 48
Niantic, CT 06357

info@asacredplace.org

Information regarding the Barbara Mahon College Fund:
barbaramahonfund@gmail.com