Examining Facilitator Experiences Delivering an Intervention to System-Involved Women with Mental Illnesses

Gender differences have been found in the experiences and needs of individuals involved in the criminal legal system, underscoring the importance of interventions tailored to address the needs of system-involved women. Despite this recognition, there remains a gap in understanding how to effectively implement interventions for women with mental illnesses—a population that is increasingly prevalent within correctional facilities. This qualitative study examined facilitator experiences delivering a cognitive behavioral intervention to incarcerated women with mental illnesses. Qualitative open coding techniques were used to analyze facilitator notes from each session to learn more about the challenges facilitators experienced and the strategies they used to address them. Teaching interpersonal conflict skills was identified as the primary challenge facilitators faced throughout intervention delivery. Two aspects of teaching interpersonal conflict skills were found to be particularly difficult: how facilitators worked with participants to identify interpersonal conflicts, and how facilitators fostered discussions of conflict during intervention sessions. This study provides initial insights into the complexities inherent in delivering interventions to system-involved women with mental illnesses. Our results highlight the need for future research and interventions that address dynamics at the intersection of interpersonal conflict, gender, and mental illness.