The Traveling Therapist Podcast

217. What It’s Really Like Working Inside a Prison as a Therapist with Ana Godoy

Kym Tolson Episode 217

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0:00 | 28:56

Working inside a prison as a therapist is not something most clinicians ever picture for themselves. But for Ana Godoy, it turned out to be one of the most humbling, eye-opening experiences of her career.

In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Ana, a bilingual social worker and licensed clinician based in Southern California, to talk about what led her to take a contract role inside a California state prison, what the work actually looked like day to day, and how that leap eventually opened doors she never expected. If you've ever thought about doing something completely outside your clinical comfort zone, this one is for you.

In This Episode, We Explore…

  • What drew Ana to correctional mental health work after 25 years in schools and family services.
  • What it was actually like walking into a prison and running groups with incarcerated individuals.
  • How contract recruiting works for mental health clinicians in California, and what to expect with pay and benefits.
  • The telehealth options now available inside correctional settings, and why some positions don't require you to be on-site.
  • How Ana is now channeling her experience into independent facilitation and consulting for families navigating the California Regional Center system.

Connect with Ana Godoy:
Website https://mifortaleza.us/
Website https://allthingslatina.com/

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

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The Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by:

Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists

Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym