There are many treatment programs available for someone to seeking recovery from substance use disorders. One that is gaining popularity nowadays in therapeutic communities (TC program). What is the aim of the therapeutic community? What does the recovery process look like? Why does it have a positive success rate in improving one’s mental health?
In this article, we will discuss all these questions and more. See if TC program is your key to reaching a drug free lifestyle.
What is residential therapeutic communities for addiction?
Therapeutic communities are residential treatment programs that provide a structured and supportive environment for people with substance use disorders. The community typically consists of around 20-30 residents, who live together and participate in all aspects of the program including group therapy, education, and work tasks.
What is the aim of therapeutic community you ask. A therapeutic community has the following goals:
- To provide a safe and supportive environment for people with substance use disorders
- To promote personal responsibility and accountability
- To encourage positive social interactions and relationships
- To help residents develop coping skills and knowledge to live a drug-free lifestyle
Now, what is the role of a therapeutic community? The role of a therapeutic community is to provide a supportive and structured environment for people with substance use disorders. They focus on changing the attitudes and behaviors that contribute to drug use. In addition, therapeutic communities provide a structured environment where residents can learn new skills and knowledge to help them in their recovery.
TC Approach: Community as Method
The TC’s methodology is described as a community-driven method, sometimes called therapeutic milieu. The definition of community in the theory is the following: The purpose of bringing together the community to teach individuals to use the community in changing themselves. This means that the basic assumption underlies the concept of community as a method: people achieve maximum educational and therapeutic effect by engaging in and learning the diverse parts of a local society to improve their lives. Therefore, community as a method implies community as a context as well as as a mediator of personal development and social learning.
Here are the guiding principles TC treatment process:
Social learning
People learn by observing and imitating the behaviors of others. In a therapeutic community treatment, everyone is encouraged to be open and honest about their thoughts and feelings. This allows residents to learn from each other and develop new ways of thinking and behaving.
Peer pressure
People are more likely to change their behavior when they feel pressure from their peers. Being surrounded everyday with people who are trying their best to help you recover from drug abuse, and are also doing so for themselves, creates an atmosphere of peer pressure that can encourage positive change.
Reciprocity:
People are more likely to help others if they feel that others have helped them in the past. In a therapeutic community, the leaders are typically people who have been through the program themselves and are in recovery. This allows residents to see that change is possible and that they can achieve their goals.
Group cohesion:
People are more likely to change their behavior when they feel a sense of belonging to a group. In self help groups inside a therapeutic community, people who share a common goal are brought together to support each other. This sense of community and belonging can be helpful in motivating people to change their behavior.
These guiding principles are what make therapeutic communities different from other mental health services in overcoming drug abuse and improving your mental health.
Activities in a therapeutic community
As a potential resident, you would like to more or less know first what a therapeutic environment looks like on a daily basis. There are a number of activities that will require your active participation as part of your ongoing process to to reach a drug free life.
Group therapy: You will participate in group therapy sessions that will sometimes be called community meetings. These will be led by a therapist or community leaders. The groups will vary in size, but typically there are around 10-15 people in each group.
Individual therapy: In addition to group therapy, you will also meet with a therapist for individual sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to discuss your progress and any challenges you are facing inside and outside. It is also a chance to discuss the psychological and social goals that you are not comfortable sharing to other community members.
Work tasks: You will be assigned work tasks to help with the running of the community. These tasks may include cooking, cleaning, and gardening. You shall also gain productive coping skills to do away from your previous lifestyle.
Education classes: You will participate in education classes on topics such as substance abuse, mental health, and life skills. A deeper understanding of your own condition shall help you from recognizing behaviors affecting your drug use. The goal is to catch these negative patterns in order to stop them.
Leisure time activities: You will have some free time each day to relax and enjoy leisure activities. These may include watching TV, playing sports, or taking part in art classes. The community involvement does not just stop at work and therapy, but extends to enjoying life in a fun and safe environment.
These are the set of activities that you shall expect in a therapeutic community treatment. A successful integration into these tasks will help you attain what is the aim of therapeutic community.
Structure inside a therapeutic community
A therapeutic community is typically structured around a hierarchy, with different levels of responsibility and authority.
- Residents: Residents are the people who live in the community. They are typically in treatment for drug abuse or other mental health issues.
- Community leaders: Community leaders are responsible for the day-to-day running of the community. They typically have more experience in recovery than other residents.
- Therapists: Therapists are mental health professionals who provide therapy to residents.
- Medical staff: Medical staff includes nurses and doctors who provide medical care to residents.
- Administrators: Administrators are responsible for the financial and administrative aspects of the community.
These five groups are all community members. They work together to attain what is the aim of therapeutic community – to create a safe and supportive environment for residents to recover which is in and maintain being drug free.
What is the success rate of therapeutic communities?
The success rate of therapeutic communities is high. In fact, studies have shown that TC programs are associated with a decrease in drug use and criminal activity, as well as an increase in employment and housing stability. In addition, residents of therapeutic communities report high levels of satisfaction with the program.
With its success rate, correctional facilities are increasingly using therapeutic communities to treat inmates with drug abuse problems. In fact, it is estimated that over 500,000 inmates in the United States participate in TC programs each year. When talking about long-term success, therapeutic communities provide a higher success rate for inmates than traditional drug treatment programs.
After successfully completing a therapeutic community treatment program, you shall have the skills and knowledge to lead a drug-free life. You shall also be better equipped to deal with the challenges of daily life. You shall be able to find a job, keep a job, and live on your own. Most importantly, you will be able to develop and maintain healthy relationships with others and even with yourself.
Which is not a focus of a therapeutic community?
There are certain things that a therapeutic community would prioritize less. A therapeutic community does not focus on providing medical care or detoxification services. These services are typically provided by as compared to other’s mental health treatment.
If you are also suffering from other mental illness like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe personality disorders, etc. a therapeutic community might not be a good fit for you. There might be modified therapeutic communities available for these cases. Discuss this with your doctor or addiction specialist to best choose the mental substance abuse treatment plant for you.
Where to find a therapeutic community for addiction?
In order to find a reputable therapeutic community, you can start by asking your doctor for a referral. You can also look for directories of mental health providers, such as the American Psychological Association’s Therapist Finder. There are a number of national institutes offering TC as part of their mental health services.
Bottomline
A therapeutic community is a drug rehabilitation program that uses a group setting to treat addiction and mental health issues. It is a long-term, residential treatment that typically lasts 6 to 12 months. What is the aim of a therapeutic community? It is to help residents develop the skills and knowledge necessary to live a drug-free life by providing a safe and supportive environment.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, consider looking into a therapeutic community as an option. Discuss this with a addiction professional. Start by seeking help through any addiction hotline available to you.
