Communal Living as the Agent of Change

Akerman, Geraldine

doi:10.1002/9781119139980.ch37

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…A sense of broader community – beyond the small therapy groups – is a key aspect of TCs (Akerman, 2010), and, thus, the therapeutic process is intended to enable residents to construct positive self-identities and experience a more positive life within the penal institution (Akerman, 2010; Ware et al, 2010). Critical to this article are two features of TCs (Akerman, 2019; Pearce and Haigh, 2017; Genders and Player, 1995). Firstly, TCs intend to foreground transparency and discuss both the offending itself and the context in which it took place in order to help residents understand why they offended, which may include histories of abuse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating moral dimensions and lateral power – The experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community

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Akerman²

2022

Incarceration

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This article examines the moral world of therapeutic penal communities through the lens of the experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual victimisation. Drawing on the concepts of lateral power and stigma, we discuss how Therapeutic Communities (TCs), which are intensely social communities, operate within three moral dimensions: the institutional set of therapeutic norms, the con code, and the broader sociocultural set of norms that intensely stigmatise sexual offending. Specifically, the focus of this article is how these norms shape the manner in which lateral power is used, navigated and resisted within TCs. We explore the manner in which TC processes are used as tools to enact lateral power over men with sexual offences, and how the three moral dimensions create a messy moral environment within the TC. Importantly, we explore how the residents navigate the morally complex dual identity of offender and victim. We also note that the moral messiness, and the conflicts between the moral dimensions, also raise challenges for how vertical institutional power is exercised. Finally, we point out that the neoliberal individualism inherent in today's sociocultural moral dimension further shapes how men with sexual offences experience the moral community of the TC.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating moral dimensions and lateral power – The experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community

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Akerman²

2022

Incarceration

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“…The movement emerged during the 1960s and consisted of people with mental health problems who advocated their right and opportunity to take part in society on equal terms to other citizens, regardless of their symptoms [ 2 ]. The main differences in treatment approaches between these recovery orientations may be exemplified through two frameworks: DTCs, which are more common in treating mental health problems, and CTCs, which are generally applied when treating SUD [ 60 ]. In DTCs, psychodynamic principles are applied to enhance the patients’ understanding of their current reaction patterns, considering their attachment style and their past experiences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CTCs, on the other hand, are more influenced by reward theory. Rewards and consequences are employed to change behaviours that are perceived to inhibit patients’ recovery [ 60 ]. The variations in these approaches may be useful to illustrate differences in conventional perceptions about how the two conditions develop and progress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the factor structure of a translated recovery-orientation instrument in inpatient treatment for substance use disorder

Johannessen

Geirdal

Nordfjærn

2021

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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Background Recovery has been outlined as a process of change through which involvement and empowerment enables individuals to reach their goals and aspirations. Recovery self-assessment (RSA) is an instrument that has been acknowledged as an applicable measure of recovery-orientation in services for people with mental health problems or substance use disorder (SUD). This study aimed to translate RSA from US English to Norwegian and to investigate the factor structure of the translated version (RSA-N). Methods A translate/back-translate procedure was used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to investigate the factor structure of RSA-N in a sample of clinicians (n = 407) working in inpatient SUD treatment facilities. Results The results suggested that the hypothesised five-factor structure originally obtained by the developers showed an inadequate fit with the current data sample. RSA-N was modified and restructured by removing twelve misfitting items and combining factors with high covariance using data from one subsample. The alternative three-factor structure yielded an acceptable fit for the data from a second subsample. Acceptable alpha coefficients, suggesting good internal consistency, supported the adequacy of the three-factor structure. Conclusions Results from the present study are in line with previous findings, which have failed to replicate the hypothesised five-factor structure without modifications. Knowledge about the degree to which SUD services are recovery-oriented may contribute to SUD services’ pursuit of establishing an inpatient treatment environment that fosters change and development of inpatients. The present study’s findings imply RSA-N’s potential as an instrument to assess recovery-orientation in inpatient SUD treatment.

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“…On the EAPU there are psych education groups. For further details of how the regime runs see Akerman (2019) and Shuker and Sullivan (2010). So, it soon became apparent that to meet as a whole community would breach advice of not to gather in numbers.…”

Section: Overall Experience Of Covid and The Impact On Hmp Grendonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social distancing in a social therapy environment

Akerman¹,

Jones

Talbot³

et al. 2020

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Purpose This paper aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a prison-based therapeutic community (TC). Design/methodology/approach The paper takes the form of a case study where the authors reflect on their current practice, using the findings of research on social isolation and the overarching TC principles to explore the effect of the pandemic on the TC at HMP Grendon. The authors consider how the residents and staff adjusted to the change as the parameters changed when the social distancing rules were imposed and how they adapted to the prolonged break to therapy. Sections in the paper were written by a resident and an operational member of staff. The authors conclude with their thoughts on how to manage the consequences the lockdown has brought and start to think about what returning to “normality” might mean. Findings The paper describes the adjustments made by the residents and staff as the UK Government imposed the lockdown. The authors, including a resident and an operational member of staff comment on the psychological and practical impact these adjustments had. The thought is given to the idea of “recovery”, returning to “normality” and how this study can be best managed once restrictions are lifted. Research limitations/implications At the time of writing, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at HMP Grendon. The measures and commitment from all staff and residents in the prison to keep the prison environment safe may in part account for this. This paper explores the effects of lockdown on the emotional environment in a TC and highlights the consequences that social isolation can have on any individual. To the authors’ knowledge, there is currently no research undertaken on the impact of lockdown/social isolation on a TC. This research would be useful, as the authors postulate from reflections on current practice that the effects of the lockdown will be greater in a social therapy environment. Originality/value HMP Grendon started in 1962, as this time there have been no significant events that have meant the suspension of therapy for such a sustained period. It is, therefore, important that the impact of such is considered and reflected upon.

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Communal Living as the Agent of Change

Cited by 10 publications

References 39 publications

Navigating moral dimensions and lateral power – The experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community

Navigating moral dimensions and lateral power – The experiences of men with sexual convictions and histories of sexual abuse serving sentences in a therapeutic community

Investigating the factor structure of a translated recovery-orientation instrument in inpatient treatment for substance use disorder

Social distancing in a social therapy environment

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