Leaving prison is just the beginning.

Crissie Carter, LCSW, has more than four decades of experience working at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. She earned her MSW from Barry University in 1998 and a BA in Sociology from the University of Florida in 1981.

Her work in this field began early. At 22, she was involved in federal trial preparation for a multi-defendant case, attending proceedings from jury selection through verdict and sentencing. That experience led to ongoing involvement supporting individuals and families through incarceration, release, and reintegration.

Carter later served as a state probation and parole officer, gaining firsthand insight into supervision, compliance, and the challenges individuals face upon reentry. She also taught college courses within a state prison, further deepening her understanding of institutional life and the barriers to rehabilitation.

At 35, she became Co-Director of FLIP (Families with Loved Ones in Prison), where she worked extensively in advocacy, education, and support. In that role, she collaborated with Florida's legislative criminal justice committees, contributed to policy discussions regarding Department of Corrections regulations, and participated in national reform efforts. She facilitated support groups through the Catholic Diocese of Venice, spoke at conferences, and worked with organizations such as CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants), including advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. on behalf of incarcerated individuals and their children.

Throughout her career, Carter has supported criminal defense teams, participated in investigations, assisted with parole hearings, and contributed to reentry programming. Her work is informed not only by professional training but by extensive firsthand experience navigating state and federal prison systems, including visitation procedures and the complex realities faced by incarcerated individuals and their families.

Carter's clinical focus centers on the psychological and emotional impact of long-term incarceration. She works with individuals navigating institutionalization, loss of autonomy, social isolation, stigma, and the challenges of reintegration. Her approach addresses patterns often overlooked in traditional therapy, including hypervigilance, emotional numbing, disrupted relationships, and difficulty with independent decision-making. She is committed to providing informed, effective care for individuals and families who are often misunderstood and underserved within the mental health field.