Counseling Services
WCRJC staff performs 1 on 1 and group counseling to assist each resident in recognizing and dealing with his or her problem areas. The staff will discuss recommendations and future placements with the clients and referring agencies.
Thinking for a Change
The West Central Regional Juvenile Center runs Thinking for a Change. Thinking for a Change (T4C) is a cognitive–behavioral curriculum developed by the National Institute of Corrections that concentrates on changing the criminogenic thinking of offenders. T4C is a cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) program that includes cognitive restructuring, social skills development, and the development of problem-solving skills.
T4C stresses interpersonal communication skills development and confronts thought patterns that can lead to problematic behaviors. The program has 3 components:
- Cognitive self-change
- Social skills
- Problem-solving skills
Self-change
Lessons on cognitive self-change provide participants with a thorough process for self-reflection concentrated on uncovering antisocial thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Social skills lessons prepare participants to engage in pro-social interactions based on self-understanding and awareness of the impact that their actions may have on others. Finally, problem-solving skills integrate the 2 other components and provide participants with a step-by-step process to address challenges and stressful situations they may encounter.
Sessions
The program is divided into 25 lessons (each lasting approximately 90 minutes), with the capacity to extend the program indefinitely. Each lesson teaches offenders important social skills (such as active listening and asking appropriate questions) as well as more complex restructuring techniques (such as recognizing the types of thinking that get them into trouble and understanding the feelings of others). Most sessions include didactic instruction, role-play illustrations of concepts, a review of previous lessons, and homework assignments in which participants practice the skills learned in the group lesson.