Kendra Capalbo, a former clinical social worker, recently shared her experience of working in a maximum-security prison and how it profoundly impacted her love life, Your Content has learned.
For 15 years, Kendra dedicated her time to performing mental health assessments for inmates, including murderers and rapists.
However, the constant interaction with these dangerous individuals took a toll on her ability to trust and connect with potential romantic partners.
In an interview with NeedToKnow.co.uk, Kendra, who is now a licensed sex and couples therapist, explained the challenges she faced.
“When you spend most of your time in an environment such as a prison, you start to become very jaded in how you see the world,” she said.
While acknowledging that some prisoners may have made mistakes or been wrongly convicted, Kendra found it difficult to let her guard down due to countless stories of crimes, manipulative behavior, and negative views towards women.
Working at Rhode Island Adult Correctional Facility at the start of her career, Kendra went years without going on a single date, influenced by her job. She shared, “A lot of the inmates were extremely charming, but overhearing their conversations with peers and learning about their crimes made it difficult for me to trust.”
Kendra’s dedication to maintaining her independence and not feeling indebted to anyone also affected her ability to soften outside of work and connect with romantic partners.
However, a crush she developed while on holiday motivated Kendra to re-enter the dating world.
Despite her efforts, she faced rejection and internalized it as a personal reflection, unaware of the negative impact her job had on her self-esteem. It was only after leaving the prison that she realized the emotional walls she had built and gradually began dismantling them.
Recognizing the need for a career change, Kendra pursued therapy and private practice while still working in the prison.
She discovered a passion for couples therapy, which energized her unlike anything before. It was then that she realized leaving the prison was financially feasible.
Simultaneously, Kendra’s love life took a positive turn when she met her now-husband, James, through an online dating site. He was patient, transparent, and understanding, helping Kendra let her guard down and overcome her fears of being deceived.
Looking back, Kendra acknowledges the challenges she faced but does not regret her time working in the prison.
She believes that every step in life led her to where she is now and considers the lessons she learned invaluable.
Kendra strives to apply those lessons to her career and relationships, especially her marriage with James. She is grateful for the path she has taken and feels content with the outcome, according to MIRROR.
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