The Arbours runs two residential Therapeutic Communities where people in emotional, psychological and social difficulties can live in a supportive therapeutic environment.
The umbrella of therapeutic and practical support provided by Arbours fosters a climate that provides the necessary freedom for residents to find their own identity and take responsibility for their lives. Our long-term aim is for each resident to overcome his or her emotional and psychological dependency and to gain a more independent way of living.
User participation is a vital component of our therapeutic approach. We expect each person to contribute to the running of the house, and to help with cooking, cleaning, shopping, financial management and maintenance, as well as with choosing new members and with attending on-going discussions of house policies.
Two co-ordinators, both experienced psychotherapists, have overall practical and therapeutic responsibility for each house. They are on call for advice and support and lead house meetings in each house every week. Residents see their own individual psychotherapists twice a week and attend art and movement therapy groups once weekly.
In addition to the above, we have established a policy of having in each house, residential community facilitators who share living in the community. In addition, our trainee psychotherapists and volunteers do visiting placements.
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Referrals to the communities may come from individuals, psychiatrists, GPs, social workers, psychologists, and psychotherapists, and from statutory and voluntary agencies.
Each potential resident has an interview with an experienced psychotherapist who assesses the applicant’s psychological and emotional needs, and suitability as a community resident. This also provides an opportunity for the potential resident to raise any questions they may have and to get information about the communities.
We aim to maintain a nurturing, non-institutional, home-like atmosphere where respect for the freedom and unique potential of each individual is honoured. We see it as our task to help residents face and work on the difficulties that may be impeding their growth, and to motivate them in the direction of achieving a more satisfying way of life so that they can live as viable members of society.
The umbrella of therapeutic and practical support provided by Arbours fosters a climate that provides the necessary freedom for residents to find their own identity and take responsibility for their lives. Our long-term aim is for each resident to overcome his or her emotional and psychological dependency and to gain a more independent way of living.
The next stages in the assessment procedure are interviews with each of the house co-ordinators and an informal meeting with the present residents. If all goes well, the potential resident is invited to spend a weekend in the community. The whole procedure usually takes from four to six weeks.
