THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

Rehabilitation is defined as a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning

and reduce disability in people with health conditions who interact with their
surroundings.

What is a Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL)?

Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) was defined by the Revised Implementing Rules
and Regulations of the Republic Act No. 10575, also known as The Bureau of
Corrections Act of 2013, as a detainee, inmate, or prisoner, or any other person under
confinement or custody in any other way.
The State is responsible for promoting the general welfare and protecting the basic
rights of every prisoner incarcerated in the national penitentiary by promoting and
ensuring their reformation and social reintegration, creating an environment
conducive to rehabilitation, and adhering to the United Nations Standard Minimum
Rules for Treatment of Prisoners (UNSMRTP) (Section 2 of IRR RA 10575, 2016).

The Nelson Mandela Rules - The Nelson Mandela Rules, also known as the United
Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, provide detailed
guidelines for states to protect the rights of people deprived of their liberty, from pre-
trial detainees to sentenced prisoners (Gilmour, n.d.).
The Rules are based on the obligation to treat all prisoners with dignity and value as
human beings, as well as to prohibit torture and other forms of ill-treatment. It
emphasizes that providing health care for prisoners is a responsibility of the state,
and that the relationship between health-care professionals and prisoners is
governed by the same ethical and professional standards that apply to patients in the
community (Gilmour, n.d.).

Basic Principles of the Nelson Mandela Rules

The following are the basic principles of the Nelson Mandela Rules (UNODC, 2015):
Rule 1: All prisoners shall be treated with the respect due to their inherent dignity and
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Rule 2: The present rules shall be applied impartially. There shall be no
discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or
other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or any other status. The
religious beliefs and moral precepts of prisoners shall be respected (UNODC, 2015).
Rule 3: Imprisonment and other measures that isolate people from the outside world
are harmful because they deny them the right to self-determination by depriving
them of their liberty. The prison system shall not aggravate the suffering inherent
in such a situation, except as a result of justifiable separation or the maintenance
of discipline (UNODC, 2015).
Rule 4 The primary goals of a prison sentence or similar measures depriving a
person of liberty are to protect society from crime and to reduce recidivism. Those
goals can only be met if the time spent in prison is used to ensure, as much as
possible, the reintegration of such people into society upon their release, so that
they can live a law-abiding and self-sustaining life (UNODC, 2015).
Rule 5: The prison regime should seek to minimize any differences between
prison life and life at liberty that tend to lessen the responsibility of the prisoners
or the respect due to their dignity as human beings (UNODC, 2015).
Rehabilitation and Penology
Penology, also known as Penal Science, is the division of criminology that
concerns itself with the philosophy and practice of society in its efforts to repress
criminal activities (Britannica Encyclopedia, 2016).
In the field of penology, rehabilitation is usually specified by courts of law as one of
the objectives of sentencing, alongside retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and
restoration (McGuire, 2010).
Goals of Criminal Sentencing Sentences are punishments for convicted
defendants. Imposition of sentences is a judicial function to be performed by
sentencing courts. The function of sentencing courts is to impose a sentence
upon each offender that is appropriate to the offense and the offender (ABA, n.d.).
Criminal sentencing can range from probation and community service to prison
(FindLaw.com, 2021).
Different types of sentences are designed to meet different goals. The goals are
(Types & Goals of Contemporary Criminal Sentencing, 2014):
• Retribution- It refers to the act of setting a punishment for someone that
fits the crime (Legaldictionary.net, 2018). It focuses on the punishment
of lawbreakers and the compensation of victims. The severity of the punishment
is proportionate to the seriousness of the crime. It is based on the concept of lex
talionis or the law of retaliation (Meyer, 2014).
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• Incapacitation- It refers to the act of rendering a person incapable of
committing a crime through execution or banishment, and in more
recent times through execution or long periods of incarceration (Bernard,
2021). It reduces crime by literally preventing someone from committing
a crime while incarcerated through direct control (Bushway, 2014).
• Deterrence- It is the use of punishment to deter potential criminals from
committing crimes. It is based on the premise that criminals would only
break the law after carefully weighing the risks and rewards of their
actions. When the punishment for committing a particular crime
outweighs the reward, the criminal will refrain from committing the crime.
Offenders
are more likely to take the risk and commit a crime if the punishment is
perceived to be less severe than the potential rewards (Deterrence in
Criminology: Definition & Theory, 2017).
• Rehabilitation- It is the process of assisting inmates in growing and
changing, allowing them to separate themselves from the environmental
factors that led to their crime in the first place. The idea is to address
each of the major contributing factors in order to help an inmate live a
crime-free life after they are released (Criminal Rehabilitation: Programs,
Statistics & Definition, 2021).
• Restoration- It is the process by which victims, offenders, and communities
affected by a specific offense come together to find a way to restore or
make amends for the harm caused by the offense (Lauritsen, 2009).
There are five perspectives on PDL rehabilitation that are based on its goal, and they
are as follows:
1. Rehabilitation as Anti-Recidivism - Rehabilitation may share the goal of
preventingpeoplefromcommittingfuturecrimeswithincapacityandspecific
deterrence, so it lacks a distinguishing feature. Rather, its distinguishing
feature is how it gets there, that is, the means used to accomplish this
goal. Incapacitation attempts to reduce the likelihood of recidivism by
making it physically impossible, such as by separating the offender from
potential victims or killing the offender. By disincentivizing re-offending,
special deterrence seeks to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
Rehabilitation, on the other hand, employs other methods, most likely
involving the modification of the offenders’ intrinsic dispositions (Phelps,
2011).
2. Rehabilitation as Harm-Reduction - Punishment can be justified even if it
has no general deterrent effect because it may rehabilitate the offender,
that is, reduce the likelihood that the offender will engage in actions that
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‘either cause serious setbacks to wellbeing or pose a high risk of doing

so. It aims to improve offenders’ sensitivity to prudential and moral
considerations (Sverdlik, 2012).

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3. Rehabilitation as Therapy - The aims of rehabilitation overlap with those of

Sir Samuel Romilly (1757-1818) was an English legal reformer whose main focus was
clinical medicine, particularly clinical psychiatry, which focuses on mental
on lessening the severity of English criminal law (Britannica Encyclopedia, 2022). He
illnesses and deficits. As with standard medical treatments, the goal of
devoted his life to advocating on behalf of the lower classes and worked to reform
curing or ameliorating the deficit may be instrumental to further benefit the
English criminal law by abolishing the death penalty for minor offenses. He harshly
individual. However, other objectives are possible. These may include
criticized the Doctrine of Maximum Severity (Bez, 2020).
things like preventing recidivism, protecting the public, or advancing the
social good (Forsberg, and Douglas, 2022). Zebulon Brockway (1827 - 1920) was known as the “Father of Prison Reform” and
“Father of American Parole” (Zebulon Brockway: History, Facts & Quotes, 2017).
4. Rehabilitation as Moral Improvement - Punishment is justified as a way to
He advocates for a program that educates and reforms prisoners rather than
prevent wrongdoing insofar as it can teach both wrongdoers and the
punishing them. He advocates for indeterminate sentences and the creation of
public at large the moral reasons for choosing not to perform an offense
the precursor to the modern parole system (connecticuthistory.org, 2014).
(Hampton, 1984).
Robert Martinson (1927-1979) was a sociologist from New York. In 1974, he
5. Rehabilitation as Restoration - Rehabilitation is a matter of restoring the
published an article titled “What Works? Prison Reform Questions and Answers.”
offender’s social or moral standing in society or his social or moral
relations with others, or fostering the capacities needed for such Martinson’s work attempted, as the title suggests, to assess the effectiveness of
restoration. This could include social and vocational capacities as well as various prison reforms, particularly those aimed at rehabilitating criminal offenders
moral ones (Zedner, 1994). and reducing recidivism. He reviewed the available evidence from existing studies
of offender treatment to provide answers about what works in terms of correctional
rehabilitation. Finally, his essay painted a picture of contemporary rehabilitation
Rehabilitation and Reformation of PDL that could only be described as widespread failure (Martinson, 1974).
Rehabilitation is a program of activity directed to restore a PDL’s self-respect and Mark Lipsey and Francis Cullen - During the second half of the twentieth
sense of responsibility to the community, thereby making him/her a law-abiding century, many scholars attempted to pinpoint the problems or defaults and identify
citizen after serving his/her sentence (BJMP, 2015). the elements that will work for offenders under rehabilitative correctional services.
Among those scholars were Mark Lipsey and Francis Cullen. The actual problem
Reformation is a means of amending or improving an inmate’s behavior or
in rehabilitative correctional services, according to them, can be summarized as
removing faults or abuse, as well as removing or correcting an abuse of a wrong
follows (Bez, 2020):
or error (BJMP, 2015).. It is the act of restoring an inmate to such a sense of
justice that he can live in society without causing harm to it. It refers to the actions 1. Many times, rehabilitative correctional services are not scientifically
that ensure the public (including inmates’ families and victims) that released up to date.
national inmates are no longer a danger to society by becoming reformed
2. The authorities do not use available research to determine what works
individuals capable of leading a normal and productive life upon reintegration into
for a specific criminal and then apply that knowledge to that criminal.
mainstream society (RA 10575, 2013, Section 3).
3. The attitude of the staff is the third most important issue. In treating
offenders, these staff members rely solely on their own convenience.
History of Rehabilitative and Reformative Approach They only use traditional techniques in these services and justify it by
saying, “We’ve done it this way before, and there’s no reason to
Cesare Beccaria was a criminologist and economist who lived from 1738 to
change it.” They also rely on some harmful ideologies or mindsets,
1794. Beccaria was a founding member of “the academy of fists,” a society dedicated
such as “criminals are scumbags; why waste time and money on
to economic, political, and administrative reform, in the early 1760s. In 1764, he
them?”
published “On Crimes and Punishments,” his famous and influential criminology
essay (Biography.com, 2014). His work is an impassioned call to humanize and
rationalize the law, as well as to make punishment just and reasonable. He did
not question the necessity of punishment, but he believed that laws should be
designed to promote public safety and order rather than to avenge crime (Bez, 2020).
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What is a Therapeutic Community?

could be accomplished through individual or group interactions with officers from
The Therapeutic Community (TC) is an environment that helps people get help while the assigned agency.
helping others. It is a treatment environment: the interactions of its members are
Moral, Spiritual, and Values Formation - These rehabilitation activities include
designed to be therapeutic within the context of the norms that require for each to
seminars, lectures, or training provided or arranged by the designated agency.
play the dual role of client-therapist (Probation.gov.ph, n.d.).
The activities are facilitated by active NGOs, schools, civic and religious
It is the vehicle for promoting behavioral and attitude change. Its expectations of organizations.
its individual members reflect not only the individual’s needs, but also the
Work or Job Placement/Referral - An informal program in which a client is referred
community’s social and support needs. It also includes social expectations that
for work or job placement through the officer’s personal effort, contact, or
correspond to the social demands that the client will face once they return to their
information.
home communities (BJMP, 2010).
Vocational/Livelihood and Skills Training - To assist clients in earning extra
The Therapeutic Community operates in a similar fashion to a functional family
income, the program includes the organization of seminars and skill training
with a hierarchical structure of older and younger members. Each member has a
classes such as food preservation and processing, candle making, novelty items
defined role and responsibilities for sustaining the proper functioning of the TC.
and handicrafts making, and so on. Through collaboration with local barangays,
There are sets of rules and community norms that members upon entry commit to
parish centers, schools, and civic organizations, vocational and technical trade
live by and uphold (Probation.gov.ph, n.d.).
classes such as refrigeration, automotive mechanics, radio/television and
electronics repairs, tailoring, dressmaking, basic computer training, and so on are
also available.
Therapeutic Community Modality
Health, Mental and Medical Services - Medical missions are organized to
The Philippines employs Therapeutic Community Modality (TCM) to help
address some of the basic needs of clients and their families, such as physical
probationers, parolees, pardonees, first-time minor drug offenders (PPA, n.d.),
examination and treatment, free medicines and vitamins, dental examination and
and PDLs (BJMP, 2015) become productive, law-abiding, and socially responsible
treatment, drug dependency test, and laboratory examination. The Agency’s
members of society.
Clinical Services Division also provides psychological testing and evaluation, as
TCM is a self-help social learning treatment model for clients suffering from drug well as psychiatric treatment, and if this is not possible due to distance, referrals
addiction and other behavioral issues (such as alcoholism, stealing, and other are made to other government accredited institutions.
anti-social tendencies). It creates dynamic “mutual self-help” environments in
Literacy and Education - Adult education classes are available in conjunction with
which residents transmit or reinforce one another’s acceptance of and adherence
LGUprogramstoassistclientsinlearningbasicwriting, reading, andarithmetic.
to the community’s highly structured and stringent expectations (Bez, 2020).
Similarly, literacy teach-ins during client sessions become part of the module. This
Astructureboardwithmanyjobfunctionsisanimportantpartofthetherapeutic is intended to help clients who are “no read, no write” become functionally literate.
community treatment model. The structure board’s lines of responsibility or chain
Community Service - This program refers to the community services provided by
of command are clearly marked and must be followed. Participants will be taught
clients for the benefit of society. Tree planting, beautification drives, cleaning and
the various job functions as thoroughly as possible in order for them to understand
greening of surroundings, upkeep of public parks and places, garbage collection,
how the community works.
blood donation, and other similar socio-civic activities are included.
Client Self-Help Organization - This program takes the form of cooperatives and
Activities in Therapeutic Community Modality client associations, in which clients form cooperatives and associations as an
economic group in order to undertake small-scale projects. Similarly, client
The Therapeutic Community Modality provides a well-defined structure for the
associations serve another purpose by providing structure to clients’ lives,
coordinated and targeted implementation of various intervention strategies/
allowing them to re-learn the fundamentals of working within a group with
activities such as (PPA, n.d.):
hierarchy, authority, and responsibility, just as they do in larger society.
Individual and group counseling- aims to assist clients in sorting out their
Payment of Civil Liability - Regardless of the client’s financial situation, the
problems, identifying solutions, reconciling conflicts, and resolving them. This
payment of civil liability or indemnification to victims of offenders is pursued.
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Payment of debts to victims instills in clients their responsibility and the
consequences of the harm they inflicted on others.
Environment and Ecology Awareness Programs - Seminars/lectures are held in order
to raise client awareness and concern about preserving ecological balance and
environmental health. These seminars/lectures address anti-smoke belching
campaigns, organic farming, waste management, segregation and disposal, and
environmental stewardship.
Sports and Physical Fitness - Sports, games, and group play are examples of
activities that are used to improve the physical well-being of clients. Friendly
competition between clients from various offices in the sectors, as well as the
officers, provides an enjoyable and healthy respite.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
As one of the five pillars of the Criminal Justice System, the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology (BJMP) was established to address growing concerns
about jail management and penology issues (BJMP, n.d.). It is known as the Jail
Bureau, and it is initially composed of officers and uniformed members of the Jail
Management and Penology Service, as established by Presidential Decree No.
765. (RA 6975, 1990, Section 60). Its clients are detainees accused before a court
who are temporarily confined in such jails while undergoing investigation or
awaiting final judgment, as well as those serving sentences of three years or less
imposed by the court (BJMP, n.d.).
Mandates and Functions of BJMP
The BJMP is tasked with directing, supervising, and controlling the administration
and operation of all district, city, and municipal jails across the country, as well as
the safekeeping and development of PDL (RA 6975, 1990, Section 61). It has
administrative and operational control of all district, city, and municipal jails. It is a
branch of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). As a result, the
Bureau ensures (BJMP, 2015):
• the establishment of secure, clean, adequately equipped sanitary facilities;
• the provision of quality services for the custody, safekeeping,
rehabilitation and development of district, city and municipal inmates
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The following are the functions of BJMP rooted from their Mission:
1. Formulate policies and guidelines in the administration of all district,
city, and municipal jails nationwide;
2. Implement strong security m.5easures for the control of PDL;
3. Provide for the basic needs of PDL;
4. Conduct activities for the development of PDL;
5. Improve jail facilities; and,
6. Promote the general welfare and development of personnel.
BJMP Core Programs
The following are the core programs of BJMP (BJMP, 2010):
Provisions of Basic Needs
All PDL detainees receive three (3) meals per day (breakfast, lunch and supper).
They are always provided with an adequate supply of potable water. Similarly,
upon admission, each PDL is given a PDL uniform consisting of a yellow shirt and
brown jogging pants. On a monthly or quarterly basis, hygiene kits are also
distributed to the PDL (BJMP, 2010).
Health Services
PDL health services include interventions aimed at illness prevention, promotion,
treatment, and rehabilitation. Upon admission, every PDL is subjected to a
medical examination. During confinement, PDL receive health education and
counseling, medical consultations, regular health monitoring, and medicines, if
available. (BJMP, 2010).
Educational Program
The educational program aims to provide PDL with opportunities to complete
mandatory education. BJMP used the Department of Education’s Alternative
Learning System (ALS) to help the PDL earn their elementary and high school
diplomas. Teachers in the jail-based ALS are BJMP Personnel who are trained in
the ALS Instructional Method. In accordance with RA 10592, all PDL enrolled in the
ALS earn their respective Time Allowance for Teaching, Studying, and Mentoring
(BJMP, 2010).
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The goal of the skills training program is to provide the PDL with technical/
vocational skills that they can use to find work or start their own businesses once
they are released from confinement. To make the PDL as competitive as other
potential job seekers, the preferred skills training is that which is accredited by the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), allowing the PDL
to earn National Certifications (BJMP, 2010).
Livelihood Program
The livelihood program provides PDL with income-generating activities during their
confinement, allowing them to earn money for their personal needs as well as
financial support for their families. The capital for the livelihood project comes
from either BJMP for BJMP-funded projects or a group of PDL’s common fund for
non-BJMP funded projects. The jail unit Welfare and Development Officer (UWDO )
facilitates the sale of the products in display centers or livelihood caravans
organized by local government units and other service providers to help the PDL
earn from these livelihood projects (BJMP, 2010).
Behavioral Management/ Modification Program
BJMP implements the Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) to manage
and modify behaviors of PDL with the goal of positively changing their thinking and
behavior through structured group processes (BJMP, 2010).
Interfaith Program
PDL are allowed to practice their faith without discrimination while in custody,
subject only to standard safety and security measures. Mass celebrations,
communal prayers, spiritual counseling, catechism, and other religious services
are provided by BJMP chaplains and imams (BJMP, 2010).
Cultural and Sports Program
The cultural program aims to promote PDL camaraderie, self-confidence
development, and the sharing of cultural talents as a form of positive
entertainment. Dance, singing, theater/dramas, and art workshops are examples
of cultural activities permitted in prisons (BJMP, 2010).
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Paralegal Program
The primary goal of the Paralegal Program is to alleviate jail overcrowding. PDL
are assisted in obtaining various early modes of release through the paralegal
program. Regional and jail paralegal officers provide continuous educational
seminars/orientations to PDL about their rights, modes of early release, and other
paralegal/legal remedies available to them (BJMP, 2010).
E-Dalaw
The E-DALAW service is an alternative to face-to-face visitation between PDL
and their respective families. This service allows the PDL to communicate with his
or her family via supervised video call and chat. The program is designed
specifically for PDL whose family members are unable to visit them in jail due to
the long distance between their residence or workplace and the jail (BJMP, 2010).
What is the BJMP Therapeutic Community Modality Program?
BJMP employs Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) as its Behavioral
Management/ Modification Program. TCMP is an approach that focuses on the
learning and relearning of behavioral skills, attitudes, and values associated with
socialized living for clients in a community setting, according to the BJMP
Therapeutic Community Modality Program Manual. It specifically promotes change
in relational or behavioral management; affective, emotional, or psychological;
cognitive, intellectual, spiritual, and psychomotor or vocational -survival skills
(Bondad, 2018).
The Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) is a self-help social
learning treatment model that makes use of the community as the primary
therapeutic vehicle to promote behavioral and attitude change (BJMP, n.d.).
Each participant in this program is expected to contribute to the community and to
develop the impetus to change by being a member of the community. Positive
thinking, prosocial values, good decision-making, and positive coping are all
emphasized in the program.
PDL are trained in socially acceptable ways of behaving and relating to their
fellow PDL, as well as personnel and visitors, through the program, fostering a
therapeutic jail environment and maintaining a peaceful communal atmosphere
(BJMP, 2010). Through structured activities, the participants learn and practice skills
and responsibilities that they will be able to transfer to society upon their release
(BJMP, n.d.). Participants in TC are encouraged to hold themselves accountable
for their actions and to set goals for their own personal well-being, positive
participation in the larger community, and life after treatment.
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Development of BJMP Therapeutic Community Program
Correctional-based Therapeutic Communities (TC) are a well-known treatment
option for inmates15 (Lurigio, 2000). Its roots can be traced back to two major
independent traditions, which are as follows (De Leon, 2000):
1. The American Drug-free Hierarchical Concept-based TC
It is a self-help movement that primarily employs behavioral modification
techniques to treat substance abusers (Vandevelde, Broekaert, Yates, and
Kooyman, 2004) It is based on the principles of self-help. Discipline and hierarchy are
combined with understanding and compassion. Life is organized around clear and
consistent rules. Increased authority and esteem can be obtained by increasing
responsible behavior. During emotional encounter groups, people express their
feelings. Peer-group interaction facilitates learning. Role models include
experienced staff and ex-substance abusers. Self-discipline, nonviolence,
acceptance of authority and guidance, honesty, and openness are all encouraged
values. Acceptance of limitations and the acquisition of privileges leads to gradual
integration into society (Wexler, 1995).
Concept based TC has the following principles:
i. Community- The main agent for therapeutic change and social learning
is living in a group and demonstrating responsible concern and belonging.
ii. Hierarchy- Daily activities take place in a structured setting in which people
‘act as if’ they have no problems and ‘older’ residents serve as role models.
iii. Confrontation- Negative behavior that contradicts community concepts,
values, and philosophy is confronted and limited. All feelings can be freely and
openly expressed during confrontations in encounter groups.
iv. Self-help- The resident is the main character in his own treatment process.
Other members of the group can only serve as facilitators.
2. The British Democratic Maxwell Jones-type TC
It is most commonly associated with Maxwell Jones. It evolved as a professional
group work method for treating people suffering from a variety of psychiatric
difficulties, primarily through the application of social learning principles
(Vandevelde, Broekaert, Yates, and Kooyman, 2004). It is a small face-to-face
residential community that relies heavily on social analysis as its primary tool.
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Democratic TC has four central principles:
i. Permissiveness- residents can freely express their thoughts and
emotions without any negative repercussions (in the sense of punishment or
censure).
ii. Democracy- all residents and staff members have equal chances and
opportunities to participate in the organization of the TC.
iii. Communalism- face to face communication and free interaction to create a
feeling of sharing and belonging.
iv. Reality testing- residents can and should be constantly confronted with
their own image (and the impact that has on other clients) as perceived by other
clients’ communities modified for the special needs of offenders, and a growing
number of community TC programs are providing aftercare for people released
from prison (Bondad, 2018).
The Philippines is open to development, particularly for inmates or prisoners. The
Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) was introduced in the BJMP in
1998, when a group of personnel completed a six (6) week live-in trainer’s training
through the DAYTOP International trainers’ program, which was sponsored by the
US State Department. DAYTOP trainers then trained a number of BJMP personnel,
including Aloysius Joseph, Frederick Loke, Jimmy Curtin, and Fernando Perfas.
Initially, the program was implemented in a few jails in the National Capital Region
(NCR). A significant number of BJMP personnel received TCMP training.
The TCMP was also incorporated into the Jail National Training Institute’s (JNTI)
Program of Instruction (POI) for BJMP personnel undergoing mandatory training
(BJMP, n.d.).
The BJMP issued a memorandum/policy regarding the implementation of the
Therapeutic Community Modality Training Program(TCMP) in 2010, andestablished
the National TC Center and its regional counterparts, with the goal of ensuring
that TC projects or activities are well-planned, feasible, and supervised toward the
rehabilitation and eventual reintegration of inmates into society (Bondad, 2018).
Cardinal Rules in BJMP Therapeutic Community
According to the BJMP Therapeutic Community Modality Program Manual, the
following are the primary rules in a therapeutic community:
1. No sex or sexual acting out
2. No drugs/ Alcohol
3. No violence or threat of violence
4. No stealing
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BJMP Therapeutic Community House Rules

He or she is then assigned to a static group and a big brother who will support
Aside from the house rules indicated in the Inmate’s Manual, the following are the him and walk him through the orientation phase. During this stage, the resident is
sample house rules in a therapeutic community (BJMP, n.d.): handled gently and is expected to make mistakes while learning the program.
Sanctions for negative behavior are typically light, with an emphasis on education
1. No destruction of jail property;
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
2. Respect staff and status;
3. Follow directions without feedback;
Phase II- Primary Treatment
4. No cigarette smoking;
After proper orientation on the different TC concepts and tools, the norms and
5. No contraband; rules of the community and the staff members, the resident is now ready to
undergo the proper treatment. He joins the community as a crew member in the
6. No gambling;
Housekeeping department and gradually rises through the ranks. He must be
7. Be on time in all activities; familiar with the following (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
8. Lights off at 10:00 PM; • Proper use of the different tools to address personal issues and concerns
and shape behavior;
9. No talking/laughing after lights off;
• Managing own feelings and learning how to express oneself appropriately;
10. Maintain good grooming and hygiene;
• Learning how to follow the rules and norms of the community;
11. No vandalism;
• Maximize participation in activities that are appropriate to the resident’s
12. Be courteous to people;
need for growth;
13. Use the chain of command;
• Learning how to trust the environment by disclosing self to the
14. No talking/laughing during the Morning meeting and other activities; community and develop insight in the process;

15. No lending or borrowing without permission; and • Developing positive coping skills to deal with difficult life situations;

16. Respect other people’s property. • Enhancing educational and vocational skills to make him productive; and
• Improve social skills and recognize the importance of other people’s help
in shaping behavior.
Phases of BJMP Therapeutic Modality
Phase I- Entry/Orientation Phase
Phase III- Pre Re-entry
When a PDL is committed to jail, he is subjected to a battery of tests to determine
his physical, social, and psychological well-being. A resident is assigned to the Under normal circumstances, the resident is expected to have internalized the TC
Reception and Diagnostic Room/Orientation Room upon his commitment. He is values and concept by this point in order to begin life anew. However, in a jail
familiar with the TC program (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.): setting where entry and release are not under the control of the jail, residents may
not have reached this stage of treatment before they leave the facility (BJMP
• The community rules and norms; TCMP Manual, n.d.). Regardless of the length of the resident’s stay, he is
• TC concepts, written and unwritten philosophy; expected to go through this phase before being released into society. At this
point, the resident is expected to have demonstrated his ability to take on more
• The staff and members of the community; responsibility and thus requires less supervision. In the TC community, he is
• The tools of the house; regarded as a role model. He should concentrate on the following knowledge
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
• Job functions and TC hierarchy.
• Rebuilding of social and family ties;
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• Going up the ladder of hierarchy by showing leadership;
• Realization of his full potential to be a productive member of society; and
• Mapping out of plans.
Phase IV- Re-entry
A resident at this stage is now ready to be released back into society because he
has demonstrated adequate self-control and discipline. The inmate is now
preparing for life outside of prison and is working hard to become a productive
citizen. He may begin to make plans for job hunting and the restoration of family
ties and relationships (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.). Residents will remain in the jail
until their cases are resolved or they have been convicted and must be remanded
to the Bureau of Corrections.
The resident must focus on the following (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
• Transition to life outside of jail;
• Creating a new lifestyle applying the tools and concept of TC;
• Learning positive coping skills to deal with day-to-day situations;
• Re-establishing and strengthening family ties and support groups;
• Reintegration into the mainstream of society; and
• Developing realistic and attainable goals in life.
Phase V- Aftercare
Aftercare is an outpatient program that requires clients to visit an outreach center
twice a week. To reduce recidivism, they are required to attend group sessions to
ensure their adjustment to life outside of jail. Clients who have been released from
jail are referred to the Parole and Probation Administration and Local Government
Units for follow-up and aftercare. The following are the clients’ primary concerns
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
• Maintaining positive behavior and preventing recidivism
• Strengthening coping mechanisms
• Maintaining relationships and support systems
• Maintaining interest in job or vocation to maintain livelihood
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Standard Parameters of Jail TCMP
According to the BJMP TCMP Manual the following are the parameters of TCMP
and its characteristics in a jail setup:
1. Physical Environment:
• The internal and external environment is comfortable, clean
and welcoming;
• TC Philosophy and unwritten philosophies are visibly posted around
the facility;
• Hierarchical structure and daily activities are displayed;
• There is adequate space to hold activities and rooms for specific
meetings that require privacy;
• A clean and well-maintained kitchen that complies with the
sanitary standards of BJMP;
• Provision of recreation areas both indoors and outdoors;
• The dining area is equipped with enough tables and chairs to
accommodate the inmates;
• Adequate sanitary toilets and bathrooms that provide privacy to users; and
• Adequate space for sleeping and habitation that respects the
individual’s personal space.
2. TCMP Staff
• The TCMP staff has undergone proper training on TCMP;
• Presence of a permanent TCMP staff to supervise the program and
conduct the various activities;
• The TCMP staff will not be transferred to other jails until properly
covered by another TC trained staff;
• There is proper shift turn-over of TC trained staff on a daily basis;
• TCMP staff can be utilized to handle other tasks but puts priority to TCMP;
• Regular meetings are held by staff to discuss progress, issues and
concerns about the program;
• All the jail staff are involved in the TCMP and are contributing members;
 74 75

• The staff works as a team in delivering services to inmates; (Encyclopedia.com, n.d.). It refers to any intervention or treatment that uses
positive reinforcement and/or restrictions to assist a person receiving services in
• The staff serves as role models and treats inmates with respect and
dignity; and
• Incentives are given to TCMP staff in terms of awards and
commendations.

3. The Therapeutic Environment (The PDLs / Residents)

• The residents treat each other with respect at all times regardless of
age, religion, cultural diversity, etc.;
• The residents practice a culture of honesty and openness in
discussing thoughts and feelings, providing and receiving
feedbacks;
• Confidentiality is respected and practiced;
• The residents are involved in decision making and planning in
TCMP activities;
• The participants of TCMP are change agents in bringing
about transformation among peers;
• The residents comply with the cardinal and house rules and serve as
“watchdogs” for their peers with the aim of correcting erring
members;
• Absence or minimal incidence of jail violence/ disturbance; and
• The residents respect the hierarchy and chain of command.

Components of Therapeutic Community Modality Program

The Therapeutic Community Modality Program of BJMP has four interconnected
development aspects: Behavior Management; Emotional and Psychological;
Intellectual and Spiritual; and Vocational and Survival Skills. They are special
areas of concern in the individual’s personality. Each component has discrete
sets of activities, methodologies and philosophies and underlying theories that
help promote change in the members of the community and the use of various
behavior shaping tools are interconnected/interrelated with one another (BJMP
TCMP Manual, n.d.).

Behavior Management Aspect in TCMP

Behavior management is a group of therapeutic techniques for changing an
individual’s behavior by changing one or more aspects of their environment
 74 75

developing and/or strengthening recovery-oriented behaviors as well as addressing

and correcting treatment-targeted behaviors (lawinsider.com, n.d.).
The Behavior Management component of the Therapeutic Community Modality
Program (TCMP) introduces the concept and mechanics of the various shaping
tools in order to facilitate the management and shaping of the residents’
behavior. These behavior shaping tools provide a common language for the
community, increase cohesion, and adapt to the moral and behavioral code of
the tool’s application. They are also arranged in a hierarchy to allow for personal
development and learning. The community acts as a dynamic force that
motivates individuals to change their behavior for the better (BJMP TCMP
Manual, n.d.).

Objectives of Behavior Management in TCMP

The following are the objectives of behavior management in Therapeutic
Community Model (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
1. To introduce the concept of behavior management through the use
of various behavior shaping tools to residents;
2. To institutionalize the practice of behavior shaping tools to foster
behavior change among residents; and
3. To highlight the importance of behavior management in relation to the
other TCMP components towards attitudinal change among residents.

Indicators of Behavior Management in TCMP

Through its objectives the following are indicators of an effective behavior
management in Therapeutic Community Model (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
1. Residents will understand the different Behavior Shaping Tools
and practice them as part of their daily living;
2. Residents will utilize the different behavior shaping tools in promoting
change within themselves and others;
3. Residents will display improvement in demeanor, communication and
social skills; and
4. Residents will understand the relevance of the different tools in
the attainment of behavioral change.
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Behavior Shaping Tools
Behavior Shaping Tools (BST) are employed to strengthen the learning process and
the practice of more adaptive behaviors within the social learning environment.
The following are the behavior shaping tools of the Therapeutic Community Model
Program of the BJMP (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
• Pre Morning Meeting- it is done early in the morning prior to the Morning
Meeting. This is to make sure that everything is ironed out prior to the
conduct of the Morning Meeting such as the validation of pull-ups and
other concerns (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
• Morning Meeting- It is a daily ritual that starts the day in a Therapeutic
Community facility. It is attended by the whole community and lasts for
an hour. It is divided into two (2) parts namely: 1) public announcements
and community concerns and 2) community-spirit building or up rituals
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
• Major Behavior Shaping Tools- These are developed to correct behaviors
of the residents that violated the TC norms:
Talk To- It is a friendly reminder given to a young member by a Superior member
and a peer in a private and formal setting.
Pull Up- It promotes honesty, self-awareness, and accepting responsibility for
one’s mistakes. When the violator is unknown and must be validated before being
brought up in the Morning Meeting, this is done.
Dealt With- It is a type of private verbal reprimand given by a Senior member and
two peers for a recurring behavior.
Haircut- It is a highly structured and ritualistic verbal reprimand delivered by staff or
peers.
Learning Experience/ Bans- This is a type of restitution for persistent failure to meet
community expectations. It is designed to achieve a specific behavior or attitude.
For major breakdowns in house structure, bans are containment actions that limit
certain privileges to all or portions of the community.
A general meeting is called and led by a senior member of staff, usually the
facility’s Director, to address a repeated violation of the Cardinal Rules.
Expulsion is used when a resident is unrepentant and poses a threat to the
community.
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Emotional and Psychological Aspect of Therapeutic Community
People who are deprived of their liberty are obviously psychologically and
emotionally challenged. Being incarcerated with uncertainties about the outcome
of their individual cases causes them to feel isolated, helpless, and at times
hopeless due to separation from loved ones and society in general, as well as all
other issues that confront them while incarcerated. These emotional issues must
be addressed in order for them to recover and live a normal life, despite their
unique circumstances. TCMP offers therapeutic value in the processing of
feelings, which is dependent not only on how freely one expresses them, but also
on the individual’s ability to identify, acknowledge, and express them appropriately
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
What is Counseling?
Counseling is defined as the professional activity of assisting individuals, groups,
or communities in improving or restoring their capacity for psychological,
emotional, and social functioning, as well as creating an environment conducive to
achieving these goals (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
Skills and Characteristics of Counseling
1. Empathy - This refers to the ability to perceive the client’s feelings and to
demonstrate accurate perception of the client. It is “putting oneself in the
client’s shoes”.
2. Warmth - It is also known as unconditional positive regard. It involves
accepting and caring about the client as a person, regardless of any
evaluation or prejudices on the client’s behavior or thoughts.
3. Respect - It refers to the client’s belief in his or her ability to make
appropriate decisions and deal with his or her life situation when
provided with a safe and supportive environment.,
4. Congruence - Also known as genuineness. It includes the act of being
honest and authentic in dealing with the client. It is showing real concern
rather than focusing on techniques during sessions.
5. Confidentiality - It means that anything discussed during counseling
sessions is held absolutely private and shall not be discussed anywhere.
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When to break Confidentiality?
• Children are being neglected or abused
• Appearance in court as a witness
• Client expressed plan to commit suicide
• Client expressed plan to harm others
Pattern of Counseling Session
Here is the pattern of counseling sessions implemented in the
I. Introduction: First 10 minutes
• Greet the client warmly.
• Smile and shake hands.
• Escort to the counseling room.
• Explain how the session is going to be to alleviate fears.
• This is the time to develop rapport.
• Assure clients of confidentiality
II. Information gathering: About 20 minutes
• Know the reason for consultation.
• Clients can start anywhere.
• Counselors may take notes.
• Client needs to do almost all of the talking.
• Counselors may ask open questions or use techniques like
clarifying, rephrasing, focusing, reflecting, reality testing, etc.
III. Discussion/ Counselor Input:
• Counselor tells the client what he thinks the client is saying.
• Counselor develops a list of concerns.
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• Client would concur or not to the counselor’s understanding.
• Prioritize problems and which one to work on first.
• Clients will provide plans of action to work on specific problems.
• Counselors will assist in mapping out plans.
IV.Conclusion:
• Motivate the client that “he can do it”. If not, he may need to be referred to
a Professional.
• Brief client on what to expect the next session (progress based on plan of
action).
• End session on a positive note.
• Client should be able to list down things that he has to look forward to
over the next few days. If not, this is a red flag for suicide.
Counseling Theories and Approaches
1. Humanistic Theories - It posits that people have all of the resources they
require to live healthy and functional lives, and that problems arise as a
result of limited or unavailable problem-solving resources (McAdams, 2022).
Humanistic therapists are most concerned with the present moment and assisting
their clients in reaching their full potential. Humanists believe in the goodness of
all people and emphasize a person’s self-growth and self-actualization rather than
energy spent on the past or on negative behaviors (Northwestern University,
2015).
This category includes:
• Client-centered Therapy - It is also known as person-centered therapy or
Rogerian therapy. It is a nondirective form of talk therapy (Cherry, 2021).
• Existential Therapy - It focuses on free will, self-determination, and the
search for meaning, often centering on the person rather than on the
symptom. The approach emphasizes the client’s capacity to make
rational choices and to develop to his/her maximum potential
(psychologytoday, 2022).
 80
• Gestalt Therapy
- It is a form of psychotherapy that is centered on increasing a person’s
awareness, freedom, and self-direction. It focuses on the present moment rather
than past experiences. It is based on the idea that people are influenced by their
present environment (WebMD, 2020).
- The word gestalt is a German term that generally means “whole” or
“form.” It is an idea that views every individual as a blend of the mind, emotions,
body, and soul with unique experiences and realities (WebMD, 2020).
- The gestalt therapist understands that no one can be fully objective and
that all persons are influenced by their own environment and experiences. A
therapist trained in gestalt therapy holds space for their clients to share their
truth, not imposing their judgment and accepting the truth of their clients’
experiences (Clarke, 2021)
2. Cognitive Approach
This counseling theory focuses on how people’s thinking can change feelings and
behaviors. It is brief in nature and oriented toward problem solving (McAdams,
2022). It holds that people experience psychological and emotional difficulties when
their thinking is out of sync with reality.
This category includes:
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy - It teaches people different ways of thinking,
behaving, and reacting to situations to help you feel less anxious and
fearful (National Institute of Mental Health NIH, n.d.).
- It helps a person to become aware of ways of thinking that may be
automatic but are inaccurate and harmful (for example, someone who has a low
opinion of his or her abilities).
• Reality Therapy - Reality therapy is a type of counseling in which behaviors
are viewed as choices. It asserts that psychological symptoms arise not as
a result of a mental health condition, but as a result of people choosing behaviors
to meet their needs (Nunez, 2021).
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - It is a type of mindful psychotherapy
that teaches people to focus on the present moment and accept their
thoughts and feelings without judgment. It aims to assist the client in
moving forward through difficult emotions so that he or she can focus their
energy on healing rather than dwelling on the negative (WebMD, 2020).
- ACT therapists operate under a theory that suggests that increasing
acceptance can lead to increased psychological flexibility (Glasofer, 2021).
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- The goal of ACT is not to reduce the frequency or severity of unpleasant
internal experiences like upsetting cognitive distortions, emotions, or urges.
Rather, the goal is to reduce your struggle to control or eliminate these
experiences while simultaneously increasing your involvement in meaningful life
activities (Glasofer, 2021).
3. Psychoanalytic Approach - It is also known as the historical perspective,
and has its roots with Sigmund Freud, who believed there were
unconscious forces that drive behavior. The techniques he developed, such
as free association, dream analysis, and transference are still used by
psychoanalysts today (Northwestern University, 2015).
This category includes:
• Adlerian Therapy - It is also known as individual therapy, emphasizes the
individual’s ability to bring about positive change in his or her own life
(Hopper, 2019).
- Adlerian therapy consists of four stages: engagement, assessment,
insight, and reorientation.
• Object Relations Therapy - It is centered on person’s internal relationships
with others. The lifelong relationship skills of a person are strongly rooted
in his/her early attachments with their parents, especially his/ her mothers.
Objects refer to people or physical items that come to symbolically
represent either a person or part of a person (Fritscher, 2020).
4. Constructionist Approach - It holds that knowledge is merely an invented
understanding of actual events in the world or “construct”. While actual
events in the world can trigger people’s meaning-making processes, it is
those meaning- making processes, rather than the events themselves,
that determine how people think, feel and behave (McAdams, 2022).
Constructionist counselors work collaboratively with clients to examine and
revise problematic client constructions of self, relationships, and the world
(McAdams, 2022).
This category includes:
• Ericksonian Therapy - It stresses the importance of the interactive
therapeutic relationship, the partnership and purposeful engagement
of the inner resources and experiential life of each and every
individual (Integrativemed, n.d.).
- It holds that indirect suggestion could result in therapeutic behavioral
change. He preferred to converse with clients using metaphors, contradictions,
 82
symbols, and antidotes to influence their behavior rather than direct orders
(britishhypnosisresearch.com, 2020).
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy
- It is a strength-based approach to psychotherapy based on solution
building rather than problem-solving. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy
that focus on present problems and past causes. SFBT concentrates on the
client’s current circumstances and future hopes (Cadell, 2021).
- A SFBT therapist believes that change is unavoidable in life. Someone
who creates their own reality may as well change for the better (Cadell, 2021).
5. Systemic Approach
It holds that thinking, feeling and behavior are largely shaped by pressures
exerted on people by the social systems within which they live. Accordingly,
individual thinking, feeling and behavior are best understood when examined in
relation to the role they play within a person’s family or other important social
networks (McAdams, 2022).
This category includes:
• Structural Family Therapy - It is a type of family therapy that looks at the
structure of a family unit and improves the interactions between family
members42 (Cherry, 2021).
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy - It is a short-term family therapy
treatment that is often used for families with children or adolescents
who are dealing with behavioral issues (Cherry, 2022).
- It is based on the premise that the family plays the most important role
in the life and development of children. This type of therapy seeks to identify
and change the structural interaction patterns that make up the family
environment. By addressing family behaviors and interactions that contribute to
problem behavior (Cherry, 2022).
Initial/ Intake Interview
TCMP is introduced as a program for the development of PDLs while they are
awaiting trial. Participants in jail are unique as they are not necessarily drug
users. The intake interview in the jail setting is done by a Counselor to newly
admitted residents. The main purpose is to elicit information about the resident
and provide information about the
program and what the expectations are on both parties. Full and honest
disclosure is expected on the resident to elicit adequate and elaborate information
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and come up with the proper treatment plan. After the booking procedure, the
Counselor will conduct the initial intake interview to the newly committed residents
using the intake interview form. This is done only in a designated area and one
resident at a time (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling or one to one counseling is a helping tool between the
residents and counselor. Residents are usually referred to the counselor as
needed by peers or staff based on the residents’ behavior. It is done to accomplish
the following objectives (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
1. To promote individual explorations and help surface
2. complicated and troubled feelings among the residents.
3. To provide a regular source of counseled guidance to residents.
4. To assist the residents to develop better coping skills and improve self-
esteem.
5. To explore the different psychological tools which promote the
development of insight and increase self-efficacy among the residents.
Group Counseling
Group counseling or Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or
more therapists working with several people at the same time (Cherry, 2021).
The objectives of a Group counseling are:
1. To provide support to residents who fall behind and raise awareness
about problematic behaviors.
2. To help solve and overcome the problem.
3. To impart to residents the practice of TC norms and values.
4. To develop awareness and insight into one’s motives, feelings,
and behavior.
Types of Groups in TCMP
Static Group - The Static Group is a permanent group of peers and leaders that meet
regularly while the residents are in treatment. It is a sort of home group
who provides support for one another and to the new members of the community.
It is done one hour/once a week. It involves 10-15 residents and a Counselor (BJMP
TCMP Manual, n.d.)
 84 85

The Encounter Group – serves as a safety valve in a community that is typically

sexuality, and sexual relationships. Group sessions allowed each client to identify
highly pressured and structured. It is a forum for community members to verbally
and express their feelings about the trauma and the lessons they learned from
express pent-up or negative emotions in a structured and safe environment
those experiences (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
without resorting to violence or aggression and without fear of retaliation. The
primary goal of an encounter group is to raise awareness of behaviors and explore Medication Support Group - It involves residents on medications and Jail health
the underlying feelings that led to such negative emotions. It lasts one and a half personnel. It is done as long as the residents are on medication. Once a week, the
hours and is conducted once or twice a week by a Counselor, two co-facilitators, counselor leads a group of people who are on medical and psychiatric medication.
and eight to ten residents (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.). Members of the group are educated on various medical and psychiatric problems
and their consequences. Participants also share information about medication
The Extended Groups are typically made up of 5-12 residents and are led by two
intake and side effects. They also share and discuss how they deal with
highly trained staff members. It can last from 8 to 72 hours. Before they can
difficulties, such as coping with the disease and problems encountered while on
participate in the activity, participants must have been in the program for at least
medications (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
four months and demonstrated adequate stability. It is a potentially intimate and
intense session that requires considerable planning. It focuses on the “here and Anger Management - is a process that assists people in identifying stressors and
now” but allows a deeper exploration of issues that affects new behavior. Special remaining calm in order to handle tense situations in a constructive and positive
subjects may be the focus such as sexuality, trauma, etc (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.) manner (GoodTherapy. org, 2018). It is done 1 12 hour per week for 6 weeks or as
needed in TCMP and is curriculum-based. It usually consists of 10-15 residents. A
Specialized Groups - The goals of Specialized groups are: (BJMP TCMP Manual,
counselor facilitates it. Questionnaires are given to residents to answer about how
n.d.):
they expressed their anger before coming for treatment, while in the facility, and
1. To provide group support with the aim of resolving problems and how they dealt with it.
restoring healthy functioning of the residents who have particular
Secrets is a group activity in which participants can unload emotional baggage and
concerns/issues.
thus experience freedom from internal psychological conflicts. It fosters trust
2. To create a feeling of universality among residents who have similar among participants because everyone knows that everyone will reveal their
issues or life experiences. deepest secrets to the group. It also aims to strengthen participants’ mutual
respect. It consists of a staff and 10 to 12 residents. It is usually done once a month
3. To explore issues based on certain themes as a guide.
for 1-2 hours (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
4. To provide a safe environment where residents can freely express
their feelings and concerns. The client’s enhanced coping skills and
their ability to release inner Spiritual and Intellectual Components of TCMP
feelings are indications of a good Specialized Group. Spirituality - is any action or activity that reflects or brings out a man’s goodness.
It is the broad concept of believing in something other than oneself. It can include
Women’s Group - It is done one hour once a week/ might last for six sessions, and it
religious traditions centered on the belief in a higher power, but it can also include
involves 8-15 residents, and a Counselor. It allows all female residents to share and
a holistic belief in an individual’s connection to others and the world as a whole
discuss their feelings about women’s issues such as family, relationships, self-
(Scott, 2020). It encapsulates a man’s interactions with himself, others, and the
identity, self-image, societal role, and reproductive issues. The issues to be
Supreme Being. Spirituality in TCMP is intended to respond to residents’ inner
addressed are gender-specific, with the goal of assisting female residents in
longing for greater faith, where they can anchor themselves within their struggle
identifying their challenges and needs. Residents are assisted in exploring and
to find meaning in their lives. The spiritual component provides activities for
comprehending the relationship between women’s issues and their influences. It
residents to explore the meaning and purpose of their existence as well as their
improves women’s self- awareness. They can also help each other by showing
unique place in the world (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
mutual concern and support (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
The objectives of Spirituality within the TCM program are as follows:
Men’s Group - This group meets once a week for an hour and is made up of 8-15
residents and a counselor. Topics include emotional expression, revealing one’s 1. To enhance personal and spiritual well-being of residents
true self, dealing with feelings and avoiding abusive relationships, family conflicts,
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2. To appreciate the value of the Word of God in relation to their life and as
nourishment to the soul
3. To give opportunity for the residents to experience special encounter
and healing from God
4. To remind the residents for the need for constant connection with God in
their lives
Therapeutic Community Philosophy
The therapeutic community philosophy embodies all of the challenges and
aspirations of most residents who feel alienated, as well as the desire to
overcome the restrictions placed on their freedom and find their own place where
they can feel safe and welcome. It recognizes the significance of fellowship in
shaping one’s behavior and motivating one’s resolve to help himself and others. It
also serves as an anchor for him in times of emotional turmoil, to which he can
always return and reflect. It creates emotional bonds among the participants
because they are founded on the same philosophy (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
Unwritten Philosophy of Therapeutic Community
The unwritten philosophy of TC consists of slogans or aphorisms that are verbally
given to the residents to impart the beliefs and values of TC in relation to their
day-to-day living. These sayings are used to remind the residents as to what are
considered important to them. They are as follows (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
1. Honesty- A lot of residents continue to live in a lie without the fear of
its consequences.
2. Responsible love and concern- The residents will learn how to give and
accept criticisms without resentment.
3. To be aware is to be alive- Residents learn to be conscious of what is
going on in the environment.
4. Trust in your environment- There will be no change if there is no
honesty and disclosure. Before doing so, trust must be established.
5. Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it- Man by nature is
ambitious. We never get content with what we have. We want more,
even if having so would lead us to commit mistakes. We should learn
to appreciate what we have and use it to better ourselves.
6. No free lunch- In reality, nothing really comes easy. If we aim for
something, we have to work for it. There is no pride in getting
something the easy way. It is hard to let go of something that we
labored for.
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7. You can’t keep it unless you give it away- Knowledge or learning is
better appreciated if shared with others. Something becomes valuable
if used to help others make positive changes in their lives.
8. What goes around comes around- Whatever you do unto others will be
done unto you. Any good deed will be rewarded while evil deeds will
be punished in the end.
9. Act as if- Learning and accepting the TC program is not easy. Most
residents feel resistant towards it.
10. Understand rather than be understood- It is sometimes common for us to
be selfish. We find it hard to admit our mistakes hence we tend to
blame everybody but ourselves.
11. Personal growth before vested status- Sometimes, we become so
wrapped up in our own status or positions in life that we tend to forget
to develop relationships with the people around us. We should cultivate
our personal abilities before we scale the ladder to success.
12. Compensation is valid- A reward for working hard is well deserved. We
get what we put into it.
13. Forgiveness- To accept what has been done, move on and get over
the hurt and anger gives us a feeling of inner peace and happiness.
Failure to get over the pains will pin us down and stunt our progress.
14. Humility- To humble one’ self before others is a laudable virtue. We are
often enveloped by pride that it is difficult for us to lower ourselves and
admit our inadequacies and limitations.
15. You alone can do it, but you can’t do it alone- Oftentimes, we feel
invincible and indispensable knowing that certain tasks can only be
accomplished by us. We don’t realize that we have certain limitations
that without the help of others, the burden will be too great for us.
16. Pride in quality- Time flies so fast that we tend to hurry in everything
we do. We lose our focus and do things haphazardly just for the sake
of completion. We should always seek quality in our work. The product
of our labor speaks of our attitude towards life in general.
17. Feelings don’t think- We usually react impulsively to things around us
because of our feelings. Before we can even think, an action has
already been done. Everything starts in the mind. If we think before we
act, chances are, we will behave with contempt as we have analyzed
the process before the action.
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18. Guilt kills- One of the underlying reasons for depression is guilt. It is a
feeling of shame and self-blame. If a guilt feeling remains unresolved,
it can be turned inwards, thus resulting in self-inflicted harm.
19. Hang tough- Sometimes, we feel that there is no end to our miseries,
and we feel helpless and hopeless. No matter how dim life seems to
be, there is always hope. In every problem there is a solution. Every
problem is a learning experience that would make us tougher in
dealing with life’s challenges.
20. You are your brother’s keeper- In TC, each one is responsible for the
other members of the community. The failure of one is the failure of
all. This gives all the residents a sense of responsibility in shepherding
others. The success of the program is a reflection of how one cares for
the other.
Theme/ Concept of the Day
It refers to a phrase or saying that will serve as a guide for the community to
consider in their daily interactions and behaviors. Some members of the
community elaborate on it during the Morning Meeting to emphasize its
importance and how it can stimulate residents’ thoughts and help them change
their behavior into something positive. It is also from the Unwritten Philosophies
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.)
Meditation
The visualization meditation is used to help a person develop a practice of moving
his attention within, finding his place of relaxation and peace by connecting with
his inner wisdom. It takes about 1-2 hours and is done once a month. A facilitator
is present to give the participants instructions. Background music or meditation
music can be used.
Intellectual Component
The intellectual component responds to natural human characteristics such as a
desire for knowledge in order to achieve a higher level of comprehension. A well-
structured and well-implemented Intellectual Component is critical in creating a
Therapeutic Community for the residents. It helps residents regain their self-
esteem by opening their minds to new ideas and feeding their intellect on a free
and open exchange of ideas.
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Seminars are activities in TC that provide intellectual stimulation and seek
personal involvement among the residents. It is done 1-2 hours, once a week. It is
a way of providing information, improving the resident’s speaking, and writing
abilities, and enhancing their listening ability to understand all the information
presented. The type of seminars conducted are as follows (BJMP TCMP Manual,
n.d.):
1. Discussion- open format and allow for group participation;
2. Data Sessions –given specific information and games;
3. Games- mind-expanding activities to elicit thought, creativity, and
imagination; and
4. Seminar series on varied topics,
Debate
The debate is introduced to give residents the opportunity to learn how to reason
effectively and put together logical arguments. It lasts about 1-2 hours and
involves 20-30 residents and a facilitator. It is also a practice in listening,
formulating ideas, and demonstrating a broader understanding of certain issues. It
provides participants with insights into other people’s opinions, which may differ
from their own (BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.).
Job Functions and Hierarchical Structure
Job functions or work assignments are arranged in a hierarchy, according to
seniority, individual progress and productivity. These include conducting all house
services, such as cooking, cleaning, kitchen service, minor repair, serving as
apprentices and running all departments, conducting meetings and peer encounter
groups (PPA, n.d.).
The objectives of job functions in a therapeutic community are: (BJMP
TCMP Manual, n.d.):
1. To develop the right attitude of the residents towards work.
2. To enhance the capability of the residents in their day-to-day task with
utmost pride.
The TC functions similarly to a functional family, with an age hierarchy of older
and younger members. Each member has a specific role and responsibilities in order
for the TC to function properly. There are sets of rules and community norms that
members agree to follow and uphold upon admission (PPA, n.d.)
Livelihood and Skills Training
• Guitar making
The objectives of livelihood and skills training in the TCM program are
• Organic Farming
(BJMP TCMP Manual, n.d.):
1. To motivate the participation of the residents in the livelihood and
Recommended Therapeutic Activities
skills training in preparation for reintegration to the mainstream of
society. According to the Manual of Operations for Drug Abuse Treatment & Rehabilitation
2. To cultivate and enhance one’s capacity to become productive and Centers, here are some recommended therapeutic activities that can be used in
improve self-worth. the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents:
1. Psychotherapy is a type of emotional problem treatment in which a
The IWDO will conduct skills inventory of the residents to determine the
trained professional intentionally establishes a professional relationship
appropriate skills training needed. With the help of skilled staff or outsourced
with a patient with the goal of alleviating, modifying, or delaying
trainers, residents are trained on their specific field of interest which could be their
existing symptoms, mediating disturbed patterns of behavior, and
source of livelihood once they are released from jail.
promoting positive personality growth and development.

2. Counseling is a process of assisting a needy patient by Center

The Vocational Skills Training includes but are not limited to:
personnel in an individual or group setting (s). The process is
• Culinary Arts designed to help the individual learn and pursue more realistic and
satisfying solutions to his problems. It is problem-oriented and assists
• Basic Steel Fabrication
the individual in understanding himself as well as developing the ability
• Beads Making Enhancement to make decisions and choices.
• Rug making
3. Individual therapy entails a one-on-one relationship between the
• Wood carving counselor and the patient with the primary goal of assisting the latter in
overcoming and reducing his drug-abusing behavior so that he can
• Flower making
engage in productive work and develop insights into his conditions.
• Massage Therapy
4. Group therapy is a type of therapy in which the individual is assisted by a
• Artistry group process. Each group member receives immediate feedback from
• Basic Electricity the other members on his verbal and nonverbal behavior. The subject
receives group support and encouragement on the basis that these
• Automotive are effective devices that can produce positive results in behavioral
• Masonry and Carpentry modification.

• Tailoring and Dressmaking 5. Family therapy as a form of intervention is based on the recognition that
• Tailoring and Dressmaking the family, as a primary social unit, can be a source of problem leading
to drug use. Family therapy may include restructuring of the family,
• Furniture environmental manipulation, strengthening of family communication,
• Lantern and Christmas Décor Making and discovery of family members to help facilitate the rehabilitation of
the drug dependent.
• T-shirt printing
• Basket weaving
• Shell craft
6. Community work projects include among others, environmental and energy
conservation projects, training in agriculture, tree planting, and other socio-
civic religious activities. The participation of patients in community projects can
help them integrate into the local society and can also promote community
understanding of their needs and recognition of their remaining potential and
acceptance.

7. Sheltered workshops provide training for skills development and employment

with appropriate compensation in a controlled environment to increase self-
esteem and chances for outside placement.

8. Social reintegration is a process of assisting the patient to become socially

and economically self-sustaining without the use of drugs upon his return to
the community.