Democratic therapeutic communities have been set up all over the world, but until now there has not been a manual that sets out the underlying theories, and describes successful practice. Based on their own substantial experience and expertise, the authors of this new textbook explain how to set up and run modern therapeutic communities as effective evidence-based interventions for personality disorder and other common mental health conditions.
Including detailed templates and practical information alongside a wider historical context, this encyclopaedic handbook will enable clinicians to develop and implement a democratic therapeutic community model with confidence. Highlighting the importance of belonging to a wider community, this book also shows how to ensure the needs of patients are considered and met, and that patients themselves can see in detail what this approach entails. This is an invaluable resource for clinicians and service commissioners working in the field of recovery from personality disorder, as well as those working in mental health and healthcare. This book also provides a useful model for professionals working in prisons and the justice system, long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education, and students of group analytic, psychotherapy, and counselling courses.
Acknowledgements.
Preface.
Section One: History.
1. A history of therapeutic communities.
Section Two: Concepts.
2. Why therapeutic communities?
3. Therapeutic community-specific theory.
4. Belongingness.
5. Responsible agency.
6. Social learning.
7. Emotional progression and narrative.
8. The use of psychodynamic theory and techniques.
9. Group analytic influences and theories.
10. Group processes and systems.
11. Evidence for therapeutic community effectiveness.
12. General approach and principles.
Section Three: Practice.
13. Phases and timing.
14. Assessment and selection.
15. Democratic therapeutic community structure.
16. Boundary maintenance.
17. Quality of relationships and therapeutic method.
18. The use of psycho-educational and humanistic methods.
19. Anti-therapeutic processes.
Section Four: Organisational Aspects.
20. Organisational relationships.
21. Organisational development.
Section Five: Training.
22. Training - introduction.
23. Experiential training for working in therapeutic communities. 24. Supervised clinical practices.
Appendices.
Further Reading.
References.
Index.
This book is a wonderful blend of academic prose and radical thinking. It is about the person as well as the 'illness', and engaging with someone who is struggling with themselves, whatever the chemistry of their brain. This is how-to advice on a level playing field of 'democracy', where the person will always have to take a personal responsibility for how they handle their relationships. Psychiatry has to be about lessons for living and not just a top-down medicalisation that removes the skills of decision-making and agency. Read it and learn not just about humans in distress but reflect on our profession in disorder.
