1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Careers in Correctional Mental Health is presented by Ashley Batastini, PhD.

This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. Enroll in this program to earn credit towards the Correctional Mental Health Certificate and share your new digital credentials.

Working in correctional environments as a mental health provider is challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. The need to provide therapeutic, clinical, and rehabilitative services to one of the most marginalized and underserved populations has become a social justice crisis. As such, careers in correctional mental health are in high demand, yet many correctional departments report difficulty recruiting and retaining competent providers. 

Whether you're a student exploring career options or a professional looking for a career change, this presentation may serve as a catalyst for discovering a satisfying career that aligns with your values and provides a foundation to make well-informed decisions about the next steps in your career journey.

Please note: While not required, it is recommended that participants take the introductory course on Correctional Mental Health training.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the different settings in which correctional mental health professionals work
  • 2 Describe misconceptions related to working as a mental health professional in corrections
  • 3 Describe recommended educational and training trajectories that map onto different career options at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral level

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for individuals interested in or currently working in correctional mental health, including those exploring or considering a focus in this area. The program is suitable for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of correctional or forensic mental health, whether they are considering a career shift, expanding their knowledge, or supporting mental health services within correctional systems.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Generalist Clinicians
    • Correctional Officers
    • Case Managers
    • Probation or Parole Officers
    • Program Administrators
    • Correctional Health Staff
    • Students in psychology, social work, or counseling programs

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of their careers.

    • Beginner: Individuals new to correctional mental health or exploring career options, including students and those unfamiliar with correctional settings.

    • Intermediate: Professionals with some experience or prior coursework in correctional mental health, seeking to deepen their understanding of clinical roles, settings, and career pathways.

  • Practice Setting

    Format Practice occurs in secure correctional and forensic environments where therapeutic care is delivered within custody-driven operations, balancing clinical goals with safety, security, and legal/ethical requirements. Providers work on interdisciplinary teams to conduct assessment, crisis intervention, treatment planning, and reentry coordination for justice-involved individuals in high-need, resource-limited settings.

    While not required, it is recommended that participants take the introductory course on Correctional Mental Health training.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • County jails
    • State and federal prisons
    • Juvenile detention and youth facilities
    • Forensic hospitals and competency/restoration units
    • Correctional intake, infirmary, and segregation/step-down units
    • Reentry and transition programs within corrections
    • Probation/parole offices with embedded behavioral health
    • Court-based mental health clinics and problem-solving courts
Presented By

Ashley Batastini, PhD

Dr. Ashley Batastini is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Texas Tech University in the United States in 2015. Her work focuses on developing novel intervention strategies for higher-risk populations, improving access to appropriate interventions at various stages of criminal legal involvement, and addressing systemic factors within the carceral setting that can diminish the efficacy of interventions. Her research often considers ways to integrate technology into forensic and correctional mental health services. Beyond her research interests, Dr. Batastini has clinical expertise in conducting forensic mental health evaluations.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • What is a "correctional setting" and who is considered a "mental health professional" in these settings?

  • Misconceptions about working in correctional settings as a mental health provider

  • General expectations when working in corrections as a mental health provider

  • Prevalent clinical and rehabilitative needs by correctional setting--is a jail, prison, community, or other setting right for you?

  • Educational and career pathways at the bachelor's, masters, and doctoral levels

  • Review of relevant professional organizations

Earning a Certificate

This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
View Certificates

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.