An Exploration into Therapeutic Community Experiences V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Exploration into Therapeutic Community Members’ Experiences: A Qualitative IPA Study to Investigate Processes of Change
IRAS ID
323693
Contact name
Candida Fernandes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
osf.io/u2vc8, Open Science Framework Qualitative Pre-Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 28 days
Research summary
Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are perceived to be valuable, unique, multidimensional group based interventions first conceptualised in the 1940s. They are seen to be powerful in producing positive outcomes to many individuals with debilitating life circumstances and complex needs, such as addictions, homelessness, abuse, criminality, mental health. There are two prevalent, traditional forms of TC that were recognised in the TC literature for many decades: the concept TC and the Democratic TC. The United Kingdom (UK) has seen a dramatic reduction in residential TCs; with a rise in adapted, modified, non-residential, day TCs being the prevalent model adopted. Additionally, modifications have arguably resulted in the two traditional TCs sharing their practices and formats to create a ‘fusion’ TC.
The current project aims to understand current and former members’ experiences of these modified ‘fusion’ TCs situated within the National Health Service (NHS). Individuals will be provided with an advert of the research, which will be presented in the therapeutic community’s community meeting and opt-in forms. Interested participants who complete the opt-in form and are deemed eligible will be sent full study details and consent forms. This study will conduct semi-structured interviews with participants to understand lived experiences and perspectives of TC intervention, including any perceived impacts it has had on their lives. Interviews will be held face to face, online or by telephone depending on participant preference and last approximately 60 minutes. The results will be analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to help contextualise and interpret people’s conscious experience of the TC and identify common themes which reflect the processes of
change that takes place. This research will be completed by September 2024 in order to meet the requirements of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0603
Date of REC Opinion
30 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion