Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)
THERAPEUTIC MILIEU/COMMUNITY
This is a therapeutic setting for individuals requiring treatment for a range of psychosocial challenges. This therapy is done by the use of interpersonal, social and interactive approach for a group of clients in the community with common challenges.
Purpose
- Foster positive growth and change in maladaptive behaviour of clients
- Increase client independence and gain control over their personal activities
- Improve healthier way of thinking
Indications
- Facilitating a therapeutic milieu or community for a group of clients with common challenges.
- Fostering positive growth and change in the maladaptive behaviour of clients.
- Increasing client independence and control over personal activities and improving healthier ways of thinking.
Equipment
- Serene environment
- Clean floor
- Chairs and tables
- Source of relaxed music at low volume
- Means of Transportation
- NB: Select requirement based on the activity to be performed
Preparation
- Prepare an agenda or identify a relevant topic for discussion.
- Prepare a list of participants for the therapeutic community.
- Arrange chairs and tables to suit the activity to be performed.
Procedure steps
- Prepare an agenda/identify a relevant topic for discussion
- Prepare a list of participants for the therapeutic community
- Establish rapport (refer to procedure) and explain procedure to participants
- Ensure participants have taken their medication, meals and are well groomed
- Arrange chairs and tables to suit the activity to be performed
- Receive participants to the therapy
- Identify a recorder among participants for the therapy
- Ask participants to introduce themselves
- Discuss with participants the goals of the therapy
- Explain to participants the ground rules of the therapy
- Initiate and direct the activity
- Observe and involve all participants in the activity
- Ensure clients have shared responsibilities and the freedom to communicate freely on the activity being performed
- Identify and review conflicts if any and help participants to resolve them
- Summarize with the participants what has been done for the day
- Establish date, time and venue for the next therapy
- Congratulate participants for successfully completing the session
- Close the session, arrange for departure of participants
- Document the procedure and any observations made in the report book
Precautions
- Prepare an agenda or identify a relevant topic for discussion.
- Establish rapport and explain the procedure to the participants.
- Ensure participants have taken their medication, meals and are well groomed.
- Identify and review conflicts, if any, and help participants resolve them.
Aftercare
- Establish the date, time and venue for the next therapy.
- Congratulate the participants for successfully completing the session.
- Close the session, arrange for the departure of participants and document the procedure.
Nursing considerations
- Receive participants and identify a recorder among them for the therapy.
- Ask participants to introduce themselves and initiate and direct the activity.
- Summarise with the participants what has been done for the day.
Patient education
- Discuss with the participants the goals of the therapy and explain the ground rules.
- Ensure clients have shared responsibilities and the freedom to communicate freely on the activity being performed.
Documentation
- Document the procedure and any observations made in the report book.
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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