Relational Therapy in Post-Incarceration Reentry: A Scoping Review

An estimated 600,000 individuals returning home after incarceration each year face significant challenges that constrain their reentry and reintegration into society. A scoping review was conducted on how relational therapy is discussed in the literature on post-incarceration. Utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, 19 out of 304 articles met the inclusion criteria for full review. Our findings highlight the limited empirical evidence on relational therapy interventions for post-incarceration. The review also emphasizes that there is a lack of evidence-based therapeutic models or interventions that marriage and family therapists can utilize when working with this population. The paper sheds light on this issue and calls for more research on relational therapy geared towards those post- carceral release in the United States.