Rockwall County, Texas – A creative approach to convict mental health care is gaining attention in Rockwall County recently. Under direction of Sheriff Garrett and Kelley Akins, LPC-S, Director of Behavioral Health, the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office has launched a pioneering intern program. This program involves improving the mental health care given to prisoners and concurrently preparing prospective Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs).
Currently, the program consists of 12 committed interns who have set their calendars to guarantee that 50 prisoners take at least one therapy session every week. Apart from providing regular mental health treatment to prisoners, this organized setup significantly improves the educational process for the interns engaged.
Riley Brickey, one of the interns, shared insights into the unique learning environment the detention center provides, which markedly differs from traditional private practice settings.
“Working with incarcerated individuals has provided me with a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between addiction and trauma, as these experiences are often deeply intertwined. This exposure has developed my cultural competency and fostered collaborative relationships with other mental health professionals within the detention center,” Brickey said, as reported by Rockwall News.