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What is a Therapeutic Community?

A Therapeutic Community (TC) is a participative, group-based approach designed to provide a long-term program focused on changing the whole person. Therapeutic Communities have offered an alternative approach to conventional psychiatric treatment since the 1950s, today TCs are operational around the world. Due to their exceptional success, they have become one of the most researched and effectively proven models for helping those with long histories of criminal behavior, homelessness, and a past involving substance abuse. Here are the key features of a classic therapeutic community:

  • Residential Setting Participants live together in a structured environment, typically for an extended period (2-5 years).
  • Peer-Driven Approach The community is the primary agent of change, with residents supporting and influencing each other’s recovery.
  • Hierarchical Structure There’s often a clear hierarchy within the community, with newer members learning from those who have been in the program longer.
  • Holistic TCs focus on the whole person, addressing psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of recovery.
  • Work-Based Recovery Students are assigned jobs and responsibilities within the community, reinforcing positive habits.
  • Structured Daily Routine There’s a highly organized schedule of activities, including meals, work, seminars, free-time, evening groups, and community meetings.
  • Improving Habits The program uses a system of rewards and consequences to reinforce positive behaviors and discourage negative ones.
  • Self-help and Mutual Support Residents are encouraged to take responsibility for the recovery of their peers, which reinforces the strength of the community.
  • Gradual Reintegration As students progress through the program, they’re given more responsibilities and privileges, the outcome is a successful reintegration into society.
  • Continuing Support TCs offer continued support after residents complete the program to help maintain recovery.

Changing Behavior Takes Time!

The John Volken Academy is focused on whole-person change: Attitudes, Behaviors, and Values. Recalibrating how a person lives cannot be achieved in a short-term program, furthermore to expect people with long-term histories of criminal behavior and destructive lifestyles to turn their lives around and practice right living after only a few months is unrealistic, and often leads to continued shame and guilt when they do not succeed. Our students are given the time and opportunity needed to change their lives.

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How does the
JVA Therapeutic Community work?

The John Volken Academy is a highly structured Life-Skills Academy where students learn a better way to live, together. We are not a mental health facility, medical treatment center, or correctional facility. We are a long-term residential program that is peer-driven and committed to hard work creating real change. Our motto “Each one, Teach one” demands that individuals assume responsibility, not only for their recovery but also for the recovery of their peers. They recognize that the recovery of each member is related to the recovery of the whole community and they are required to conduct themselves accordingly this, in turn, reinforces their recovery. Program participants are expected to observe the behaviours and attitudes of their peers and take action to promote change. Condoning is considered a serious negative behavior that must be confronted and reported when observed in others. Peer monitoring maintains the community’s well-being by challenging the number one street code – “don’t snitch”. As most students have historical patterns of secrecy and lying, a student turning a blind eye reinforces this negative pattern and invariably contributes to continued cycles of guilt and shame felt toward himself and the community. Absolute honesty is fundamental to our change process. Personal growth and proper living are achieved by peers serving as role models, providing support through interaction, and confronting each other in group sessions. This approach is so successful that there is no need for psychiatrists or psychologists, through shared lived experience our students heal. By doing all of this, participants come to understand and resolve the cause of their destructive behaviors and also gain the necessary tools they need to stay sober. At the John Volken Academy our students are considered equals in their struggle to change their lives. While they have no formal authority over their peers, they have considerable informal authority in their community management roles. They are taught to become leaders by handling increasing responsibility in their job functions and general supervision. As junior members are primarily in learning roles, less demand is placed on them to lead. As they progress through the six stages of our program, their attitudes and behaviours change while their responsibility, accountability, and self-worth increase.

community meeting

Why the Need for a Long-Term Program?

The one key factor in recovery is time. That is the one thing that isn’t disputed across the board with all treatment facilities. The more time you have in sobriety, the better chance you have of living a healthy life.

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