Dr. Alicia Irvin, Ph.D., is TK Health's Director of Psychological Services. Before joining the TK Health team in 2016, she worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2008 with a doctorate in Counseling Psychology. She is a licensed psychologist in Oklahoma, and her specialty areas include corrections, forensics, juvenile offenders, severe mental illness, and geriatrics.
Many people may think they’ll never be touched by legal issues. But the truth is that millions of people are incarcerated each year. And those people’s choices have a ripple effect that travels far beyond themselves. When a person enters custody, their loved ones often… Read More »How Does Incarceration Impact Families?
Correctional healthcare presents unique challenges. Many healthcare team members carry a heavy emotional load as they support people who may be at one of the worst points in their lives. Having and building emotional resilience helps providers stay grounded and compassionate as they care for… Read More »Building Emotional Resilience in Correctional Healthcare
Correctional counselors help patients address mental health issues and prepare for life outside of jail. They do this by providing much-needed mental health support. They assess needs, address mental health crises, and collaborate with other professionals inside and outside of the jail to ensure each… Read More »How To Become a Correctional Counselor
Mental health treatment in jails provides a critical opportunity to support people in need. Jail may be the first time many of these people have access to medical treatment of any kind, including mental health services. This post examines the importance of mental health treatment… Read More »Mental Health Treatment in Jails
A significant portion of incarcerated people (more than 40%, according to one study) experience mental illness, which is often misunderstood. Outdated perceptions and misinformation contribute to a stigma that harms people and hinders healing. At TK Health, we believe that every person deserves access to… Read More »5 Mental Illness Myths About Incarcerated People
It’s common in correctional settings to encounter people with both mental illness and substance use disorder. This combination presents unique challenges for treatment and recovery. Many incarcerated people have lived with undiagnosed or untreated conditions for years, often using drugs or alcohol to cope with… Read More »What Is Dual Diagnosis? Understanding Mental Illness and Addiction Together.
An estimated 63% of people in jail have a substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Jail may be the first time in a long time that many of these people are without substances, and it also may be their initial exposure… Read More »Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Jail
Many people who end up in jail have undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions. People who don’t receive the professional help they need often attempt to manage mental health issues through unhealthy or harmful behaviors, like consuming substances. This ineffective coping results in legal issues… Read More »How Ineffective Coping Can Lead to Addiction
Mental health issues are common in jails. About 20% of people in jails have a mental illness, according to one survey. While other research shows that about 44% of people in jails have a history of mental illness. Mental illness and incarceration seem to go… Read More »Most Common Mental Health Issues in Jails
It’s difficult to deny the intersection between mental health and incarceration. In the United States, jails and prisons have, by default, become some of the largest providers of mental healthcare. Every year, thousands of people living with untreated mental illnesses are arrested, often for behaviors… Read More »Incarceration and Mental Health