THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES (CA3)

WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

This image represents the

Rehabilitation Programs in the
Philippines. Based on the said
image, how will you define the
Rehabilitation Program?
What does the umbrella
symbolize?
What is Therapeutic Community?
What do you think are the
purposes of
Rehabilitation Programs?

(Photo Credit: PPA Region

VII)

.Inform Learners of objectives .

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

Cognitive:
1. Classify the Different Types of Activities in Therapeutic Community.
2. Explain the Purposes of Therapeutic Community Programs.
Affective:
1. Identify the Effects and Advantages of Therapeutic Community.
2. Understand the Salient Features of Therapeutic Community
Psychomotor:
1. Independently Apply your Learnings in the Real World.
 Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning (10minutes)
Fun test: The purpose of this test is to check what you know and what you don't know
about CORRECTION. There is no correct answer for these questions but this will help
you expand your knowledge about Correctional Administration.

Let’s have a look at this image that represents Therapeutic Community and try
to answer the following questions:

1. What is Therapeutic Community?

2. What do you think is the purpose of

Therapeutic Community?

3. Is Rehabilitation Program necessary

before we release the criminal
offenders to the community?

Photo Credit: The Gooden Center

PHILIPPINE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS (20minutes)

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY
The Therapeutic Community (TC) is an environment that helps people get help while
helping others. It is a treatment environment: the interactions of its members are designed to
be therapeutic within the context of the norms that require each to play the dual role of client-
therapist. At a given moment, one may be in a client role when receiving help or support from
others because of a problem behavior or when experiencing distress. At another time, the
same person assumes a therapist role when assisting or supporting another person in trouble.

EXAMPLE 1
 Take a look at this image, you can see a person
standing at the podium giving his message to his
fellow criminal offenders. He gives his life
experiences of being a criminal offender. Telling
his journey as an offender. In this part, you can
see that his fellow criminal offenders are listening
to him. This man plays the role of a therapist.
Where his personal life experiences and
realizations could help and motivate other
criminal offenders to not lose hope and change
for the better.

HOW DOES TC LOOK LIKE?

The operation of the community itself is the task of the residents, working under staff
supervision. Work assignments, called “job functions” 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.

The TC operates in a similar fashion to a functional family with a hierarchical structure

of older and younger members. Each member has a defined role and responsibilities for
sustaining the proper functioning of the TC. There are sets of rules and community norms
that members upon entry commit to live by and uphold.

EXAMPLE 2
 Professor’s Discussion: Therapeutic Community is a tool that the Administration
uses to prepare the client for reintegration to the community as a reformed, rehabilitated,
productive, drug-free and law abiding person. Sharing their life experiences and realizations
are very essential for other members of the community. These experiences could be relatable
to them and make them feel that they are not alone. Knowing the fact that there are people
who are willing to listen to them can lessen their depression and anxiety. (Photo Credit:
Facebook)

Elicit Performance (10 minutes)

Directions: Read each statement below carefully. Place a T on the line
if you think a statement is TRUE. Place an F on the line if you think the
statement is FALSE.

_____________1. Therapeutic Community is one of the Rehabilitation

Programs in our country.
_____________2. Therapeutic Community (TC) is an
environment that helps people get help while helping others.
_____________3. Members of Therapeutic Community plays a
dual role of client and therapist.
_____________4. Therapeutic Community is essential to help
inmates grow and change for the better.
_____________5. In Therapeutic Community, inmates can do whatever
they want.

WHAT ARE THE SALIENT FEATURES OF TC? (10 minutes)

1. The primary “therapist” and teacher is the

community itself, consisting of peers and staff,
who, as role models of successful personal
change, serve as guides in the recovery process.
2. TC adheres to precepts of right living:
Truth/honesty; Here and now; Personal
responsibility for destiny; Social responsibility
(brother’s keeper); Moral Code; Inner person is
 “good” but behavior can be “bad”; Change is the
only certainty; Work ethics; Self-reliance; Psychological converges with philosophical
(e.g. guilt kills)

3. It believes that TC is a place where: One can change – unfold; the group can
foster change; individuals must take responsibility; structures must accommodate
this; Act as if – go through the motion. (Photo Credit: Nursing Path)

EXAMPLE OF ACTIVITIES OFFERED TO THE MEMBERS OF THERAPEUTIC

COMMUNITY

There are 5 distinct categories of activity that help promote the change among the
criminal offenders:

Relational/Behavior Management

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. The program endeavors to teach and model positive
thinking, pro-social values, good decision-making, and positive coping. Through the program,
PDL are trained on socially acceptable ways of behaving and relating with their fellow PDL
and with personnel and visitors thereby fostering a therapeutic jail environment and
maintaining a peaceful communal atmosphere.

● Affective/Emotional/Psychological

In general, preventive mental health aimed at reducing incidence of mental health

disorders and developing positive coping mechanisms are provided to all PDL. Preventive
mental health interventions include informative seminars on stress management, psycho-
educational counseling and other supportive psychological group activities. Likewise, psycho-
social support services or stress debriefing to address trauma are facilitated for PDL after the
occurrence of untoward jail incidents or in the aftermath of devastating calamities directly
affecting the PDL.

● Cognitive/Intellectual

The educational program aims to provide opportunities for PDL to achieve mandatory
education. For this reason, BJMP adopted the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the
Department of Education for the PDL to earn their elementary and high school diplomas.
Teachers in the jail-based ALS are BJMP Personnel who are professional teachers and
trained on the Instructional Method for ALS.

● Spiritual

PDL are provided with the opportunity to practice their faith while under custody without
discrimination, subject only to usual safety and security measures. The BJMP chaplains and
imams provide different religious services such as but not limited to mass celebrations,
communal prayers, spiritual counseling, catechism, and others. Religious organizations and
their respective ministers/pastors and leaders are accredited by BJMP to facilitate their
regular contact with PDL for the provision of religious services.

● Psychomotor/Vocational-Survival Skills

The objective of the skills training program is to equip the PDL with technical/vocational
skills which they can use in seeking employment or starting their own business after release
from confinement. To make the PDL as competitive as other potential job seekers, the skills
training preferred are those accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) so that the PDL will be able to earn National Certifications. Thus, only the
PDL who meet the eligibility requirements of the specific skills training program being offered
can participate.
 Let’s Check In! (10minutes)
Directions: Based on the examples given above, kindly explain the following questions
in your own words.

1. What is Therapeutic Community? (Your answer must be at least 25 words)

2. What do you think is the effect of the following activity being offered under
Therapeutic Community to criminal offenders? (Your answer must be at least 20
words each)

● Behavioral Management Activity:

● Spiritual Activity

Synthesis
Here are the module’s key ideas:

● The main purpose of the Rehabilitation Program is to identify the reasons why
criminal offenders committed the crime rather than knowing how big the crime was
committed. ● A Therapeutic Community is an environment that allows the criminal
offenders to help other members of the community while also getting help for
themselves.
Assess performance
A. IDENTIFICATION

Directions: Please identify the following questions. (5 points)

_______ 1. A program that helps inmates grow and change and be ready to be
released into the community.
_______ 2. The primary therapist and teacher in the therapeutic community.
_______ 3. A type of activity being offered under the therapeutic community that
helps reduce incidence of mental health disorders to all inmates.
_______ 4. This activity aims to provide opportunities for PDL to achieve
mandatory education. _______ 5. This serves as the primary therapist and
teacher of Therapeutic Community.

B. ESSAY

Directions: Please answer the following question. Before you begin writing, please
read the question carefully and plan what you will say. Your essay should be as well
organized and as carefully written as you can make it. it must contain at least 50 words
and focus on the lesson that has been discussed in this module. (30 Points)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THERAPEUTIC

COMMUNITY TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. CRIMINAL OFFENDERS

2. COMMUNITY