Forensic Mental Health Services

Pathways is committed to effectively serving adults with mental illness who are also involved with the criminal justice system.
This includes individuals who have been convicted of a crime and are currently living in the community or are transitioning to the community from prison or jail.

Pathways' goal is to assist individuals in addressing and managing areas of their lives in which functioning is impaired as a result of their mental health disorder.
Our objective is for people to live successfully in the community, avoiding incarceration.

Working Within the Prisons
Pathways recognizes the benefit of establishing trusting relationships, particularly when working with those who are incarcerated.  Mental health practitioners travel to Minnesota prisons to provide information about community support services directly to offenders, facilitate Healthy Lifestyle classes for offenders, and collaborate with the DOC Integrated Treatment Release Planner about individual offender needs.  Our belief is that meeting with offenders and other service providers during the discharge planning process will help the inmate to feel more comfortable with utilizing services that can assist him/her in being successful at community reentry.

Community Criminal Justice Involvement
People involved in the criminal justice system often face significant roadblocks.  Pathways' Correctional Behavioral Health Team provides rehabilitative services (ARMHS) to individuals who have Medical Assistance, coaching and modeling skills that will assist in successful community living.  Maintaining relationships with probation and parole officers promotes communication that can further eliminate barriers to successful community living.  Pathways has established partnerships with community resources in housing, employment, education, and other supportive functions in an effort to address the roadblocks and facilitate success for community members. 

Correctional Behavioral Health Team
Each member of Pathways' Correctional Behavioral Health Team has master's level education and/or experience in mental/chemical health and working with individuals within the criminal justice system.  They also receive ongoing training, addressing topics such as violence risk assessments, gang culture, forensic polygraph testing, antisocial personality disorder, and fetal alcohol and autism spectrum disorders.

Clinical Services
Individual issues can be addressed within Pathways' clinical services.  Group and individual therapy is offered by Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LP, LMFT, LICSW, and LPCC), Certified Gambling Therapists, and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.  The Intensive Outpatient MI/CD Day Treatment program provides structured support, education, and skill-building in a group setting.  Relationships with a Neuropsychologist and Registered Pharmacists promote access to additional assessment and medication services.

Anxiety, relationships, trauma, sleep, addictions, and mood and personality disorders are examples of therapeutic concerns that impact successful living in the community.  Pathways' staff incorporates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), Motivational Interviewing, and Illness Management and Recovery (IMR).  Additionally, hypnotherapy and EMDR are utilized by Pathways' clinical staff, when appropriate, during individual therapy sessions.

Related Classes
Pathways offers classes on topics such as Relapse Prevention, Social Skills and Building Relationships, Mind Over Mood (Emotional Regulation), Healthy Lifestyles, Anger Management, Domestic Violence, Parenting, and Driving With Care, an evidence-based program for DUI offenders.