Beyond the “black box” of the Therapeutic Community for substance abusers
A participant observation study on the treatment process
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15398317 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Virginie Debaere (Ghent University, corresponding author), Stijn Vanheule (0000-0001-8580-5809, Ghent University), Ruth Inslegers (0000-0002-2791-2558, Ghent University) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 251-262 |
| Publication date | 2013-09-13 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Addiction Research & Theory (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1476-7392 • E-ISSN: 1606-6359 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.3109/16066359.2013.834892 |
| OpenAlex | W2009389345 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 36 |
Therapeutic Communities (TCs) for substance abusers are an effective recovery oriented treatment for residents who finish the program. Over the years, the TC approach has been challenged by changes in society and by new perspectives on treatment. Moreover, the therapeutic process that takes place in TCs is barely understood or documented, often referred to as the "black box" of TCs. In order to gain insight into this process, there is a growing demand for qualitative research. This article presents the findings from a participant observation study in a Belgian TC. The first author fully immersed herself amongst the residents of a TC peer group for three weeks. By interpreting naturalistic participant observation data through psychoanalytic theory on addiction and mentalization, the process of change is discussed. It is argued that the TC program challenges former substance abusers in terms of problems they have with affect regulation. This process is understood in terms of a growing ability to manage disturbing affective experiences in a more mentalized way. The frustrating and holding TC environment together with the TC tools provide the condition and techniques to make this process manifest. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed
Addiction · Mentalization · Participant observation · Process (computing · Psychiatry · Psychoanalytic theory · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Substance use · Therapeutic community · Clinical Psychology · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Psychology · Schizophrenia research and treatment · Social Psychology
The Therapeutic Community
Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters
Qualitative research and its place in psychological science.
Quality control in qualitative research
The Self-Medication Hypothesis of Substance Use Disorders
Participant Observation
How therapeutic communities work
Assessing why substance use disorder patients drop out from or refuse to attend 12-step mutual-help groups
Modified Therapeutic Communities and Adherence to Traditional Elements
Research in the concept‐based therapeutic community – its importance to European treatment research in the drug field 1
The “Dis-Affected” Patient
The Psychoanalysis of Pharmacothymia (Drug Addiction)
Psychoanalytic Considerations of the Etiology of Compulsive Drug use
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,4 |
| Citation span | 2016 - 2025 (10) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |