Caterina Spinaris, PhD, LPC

Caterina Spinaris, PhD, LPC, is the founding director of Desert Waters Correctional Outreach (DWCO), and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Colorado.

Dr. Spinaris has been treating and training correctional employees and their families since the year 2000. She also develops wellness-related educational materials and conducts research on subjects related to correctional employee wellness.

Dr. Spinaris is the 2014 recipient of the Colorado Criminal Justice Association's Harry Tinsley award, and the author of the books "Staying Well: Strategies for Corrections Staff," now in its third edition, and "More on Staying Well: More Strategies for Corrections Staff." One of the courses she authored, From Corrections Fatigue to Fulfillment™ (CF2F) received the 2016 Commercial Product of the Year Award of Excellence by the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel.

Full list of Caterina Spinaris, PhD, LPC results

Prison reform and staff wellness are inextricably linked
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Unless prison reformers intentionally and deliberately pursue the improvement of staff working conditions, the desired outcomes of prison reform will remain elusive
The iceberg that could sink the correctional 'Titanic'
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Addressing the biggest issue impacting correctional officer safety in the New Year
How to avoid seduction’s slippery slope
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One of the greatest sources of demoralization for corrections staff of all disciplines is “losing” one of their own to justice-involved individuals
Why prevention is an integral component of corrections staff wellness programs
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It is unacceptable to send corrections personnel to interpersonally complex and physically dangerous work environments without appropriate armor
How COVID-19 placed demands on staff in 2021
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Administrators and supervisors MUST invest in their most valuable resource – front-line staff – like never before
A house divided cannot stand: The critical need for staff unity
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Staff’s negative perceptions of their agency – whether founded or not – must be addressed or these negative perceptions will breed division and discord
The hidden impact of COVID-19 on correctional staff
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Fears have been weighing heavily on staff for more than a year now, undermining their health and well-being, and most likely affecting their job performance
How 'us against them' causes corrections fatigue
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It is possible to be humane toward offenders while focusing on maintaining safety, leading to increased career satisfaction
Don't let your beliefs trap you
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'Feeling trapped' can increase the odds of a person having suicidal thoughts – here are some strategies to break out of that thinking
Fueled by COVID-19: Hypervigilance on steroids
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Hypervigilance may help save lives when an actual threat materializes, but it wears us down if it becomes a chronic state of being
Breaking the “I’m good” code of silence
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When there is peer and organizational pressure to cover up personal distress and emotional turmoil, correctional officer wellness suffers
6 mistakes correctional agencies can make when addressing staff wellness
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Ignoring the subject of staff wellness is like ignoring a serious bleed
Mandatory overtime and partial chronic sleep deprivation—Part 2
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What role might insufficient sleep play in corrections officers’ elevated rates of depression, anxiety and suicide?
Mandatory overtime and partial chronic sleep deprivation—Part 1
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Getting shorted on sleep on a regular basis contributes to the development of physical and psychological health conditions