Job Satisfaction of Mental Health Professionals Providing Group Therapy in State Correctional Facilities

Abstract

The primary purpose of this research was to explore the job satisfaction levels of mental health professionals providing group therapy services in state correctional institutions. Participants (162 providers from 78 adult male state correctional facilities) completed a survey examining perceptions about a range of job responsibilities. Further analysis investigated the relationship of demographic variables, administrative support variables, and security issues to satisfaction levels. Professionals appeared especially satisfied with aspects of their jobs that involved the direct provision of psychological services (i.e., facilitating group and individual psychotherapy services, providing crisis intervention services, and conducting formal assessments). They appeared relatively less satisfied with nondirect services including administrative responsibilities, report writing, case notes, and receiving individual supervision. The findings also revealed that these professionals disagreed that they receive adequate funding from administration or that rehabilitation was an overall goal of their correctional institution. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are highlighted.