An Eclectic Therapeutic Community for the Treatment of Addiction

Abstract

The Eclectic Therapeutic Community described in this report is a modification of a Jonesian Therapeutic Community to fit the immature character defenses of many addicted patients. The program emphasizes structures; that is, rules, policies, staff roles, therapeutic forums, program phases, and clear expectations to create living and learning situations in which addicts can model after staff and senior residents in the program. This modeling results in a development of a new perceptual style so that the addict patient is better able to clearly perceive his own behavior and the behaviors of others when involved in an emotional situation. The structures also protect the staff and patients against externalization and narcissistic injury. The program has developed out of consideration of recent psychoanalytic work with borderline and narcissistic personalities. A Gestalt therapeutic approach is employed because of its focus on perception of here and now social learning situations, case of communication of the basic concepts and techniques, and most importantly because it focuses on clear perception when emotional.