Ideology and belief in the 21^st century therapeutic community

It is here argued that the therapeutic community movement has been born out of a distinct ideological tradition in the history of mental health care, and retains much of this in its many current manifestations. However, in the broader climate of modern care in the community, such concerns can be neglected. In this paper I address these ideological foundations and argue that practitioners should not lose sight of them as they are a significant part of what defines the work; indeed they can be used as a source of strength. I highlight five dimensions of personal practice and illustrate how they link to the active practice of belief in the political aspects of work in a TC.