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The therapeutic community: Toward a model for implementing patients' rights in psychiatric treatment programs
Author(s) -
Ziegenfuss James T.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197710)33:4<1105::aid-jclp2270330441>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - therapeutic community , cites , psychology , conceptual model , conceptual framework , mental health , psychotherapist , public relations , sociology , political science , social science , epistemology , fishery , biology , philosophy
This article identifies patients' rights demands and discusses the therapeutic community's potential to act as the conceptual framework for implementing these demands. The author cites five areas in which policy and procedural changes will have to be made: philosophy, physical enviroment, organizational structure, program, and staff roles and attitudes. Recommendations for change are made in each area. The author concludes that the therapeutic community concept and its philosophy of treatment provide a viable alternative to traditional mental health policy and practice and have the capacity to become the conceptual framework for future residential treatment.