Leading from below? Decisions, responsibility and creativity as a group dynamic

Abstract

This paper aims to bring back into view some of the original ideas from which the Therapeutic Community (TC) developed today. If we forget the origins of therapeutic communities way back in the past, we cannot be in the best position to make decisions for the present. The underlying principles of the TC are a combination of social science ideas, psychotherapeutic practices and a political urgency to do something for disadvantaged people. There is a need to try to keep all branches of the past roots in play together.,Learning from the past.,The past has a relevance that must not be forgotten in present reflection.,This is a reflective exercise at the heart of the therapeutic community practice.