Exploring experiences within ‘fusion’ and prison-based democratic therapeutic communities

Abstract

Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are interventions that have been established for many decades but were properly first acknowledged during the Second World War. They are structured environments that serve to help rehabilitate individuals with a range of mental health difficulties, in a range of settings. Over time, TCs have evolved to fit in with the social and economic climate and the needs of individual populations. Originally established as residential interventions, new types of TC have formed to create non-residential versions that exist in community settings. Research investigating how people experience TCs can help to inform the intervention and develop existing TC theory.

Chapter One is a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis exploring the experiences of residents within Prison-based Democratic Therapeutic Communities (DTCs). Eleven papers were identified. Inductive thematic synthesis identified three main themes with four subthemes: (1) The Importance of Safety in the Therapeutic Environment, (2) Opening Up to Vulnerability and (3) Life Within and Beyond the DTC.

Chapter Two is an empirical investigation exploring the mechanisms of change in a community-based non-residential ‘fusion’ Therapeutic Community (TC), with two community sites. This was done through conducting semi-structured interviews to explore lived experiences of active members and graduates. Three themes were identified: (1) Being Emotionally Vulnerable, (2) Navigating Relationships Within the Group and (3) Engaging in Co-production.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Candida Fernandes: orcid.org/0009-0003-3903-9236

ORCID for Katy Sivyer: orcid.org/0000-0003-4349-0102

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