The Therapeutic Community: An International Perspective

The Therapeutic Community (TC) for drug-free substance abuse treatment can be found in more than 65 countries around the world, reflecting the global scope of substance abuse and addiction. This article describes some of the historical developments from an American-based to an international treatment model with professional associations on every continent. Possibly the two most important TC principles are outlined; i.e., the role of the treatment community as the primary agent of client change and the distinct therapeutic structure. While these two principles define the TC and can be found in programs around the world, the model leaves sufficient room to adapt practices and interventions to the respective culture. Examples of cultural adaptations are briefly described in this article.