The Therapuetic Community Model
What is the Therapeutic Community?
Banyan
House follows the
Therapeutic Community approach to alcohol and other drug rehabilitation
treatment. In Therapeutic Communities, client progress and
eventually
their stable recovery, involves multidimensional changes in terms of
lifestyle
and personal identity (De Leon, 1995; 2000).
It is a complex perspective of
the
individual and the recovery process in which treatment must address
deficiencies in a range of dimensions to foster global change in the
whole
person. The following table describes the domains and gives
examples
lifestyle and examples of identity positions.
|
Domain |
Aspect |
Example |
|
Developmental |
Maturity |
“I
regularly meet my obligations and responsibilities”
|
|
Socialisation |
Lifestyle |
“I
still have attitudes and behaviours associated with the drug/criminal
lifestyle” |
|
Psychological |
Cognitive
skills |
‘I am
able to identify my feelings and express them in an appropriate way” |
|
Community |
Program
rules |
“I
understand and accept the program rules, philosophy and structure” |
TC
treatment is conceptualized as a unique social psychological approach,
defined as
“community as method”— the use of the peer community as a context to
facilitate
developmental, social, and psychological change in individuals. The
context
consists of all program activities (e.g., groups, meetings, privileges,
sanctions, work, seminars and workshops) and relationships with peers
and
staff. These are viewed as interventions designed to produce cognitive,
behavioral, and attitudinal change.
The “method” also consists of
the
community’s expectations, assessments, and responses concerning the
individual’s participation in the roles and activities of the daily
regimen.
Maximum change occurs through the individual’s total participation
(“immersion”) in all program activities and social roles. The extent,
quality,
and consistency of client participation in all activities is viewed as
a
critical fourth dimension of client progress in treatment. Change in
this
community membership dimension is needed for changes to occur along the
other
three dimensions.
Living in a Therapeutic Community
A Therapeutic Community is a group of people working together to help each other overcome their common problem of drug and or alcohol addiction in a structured, safe and supportive environment.
To make Banyan House a structured, safe and supportive place to live, residents must understand and follow the rules on which the community operates, their own and other residents’ rights, and what is expected of them. This information is provided to residents in the following documents which are provided on entry into Banyan House programs:
Rights and responsibilities - Sets out residents’ rights within Banyan House, and where relevant, associated responsibilities.
Major Rules of Residency - Breaches of the major rules may result in instant exit from the program.
Community Guidelines - The Community Guidelines set out the expected standard of behaviour for residents. There are consequences of any violation of community guidelines.