B.S.

Criminology THERAPEUTIC
MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

1.5 Hours

This image represents the Rehabilitation Programs

in the Philippines. Based on the said

image, how will you define the Rehabilitation

Program? What does the umbrella symbolize?

What is Therapeutic Community? What do you

think are the purposes of Rehabilitation

Programs?

(Photo Credit: PPA Region VII)

.Inform Learners of objectives .

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

Cognitive:
1. Classify the Different Types of Activities in Therapeutic Community.
2. Explain the Purposes of Therapeutic Community Programs.
 Affective:
1. Identify the Effects and Advantages of Therapeutic Community.
2. Understand the Salient Features of Therapeutic Community

Psychomotor:
1. Independently Apply your Learnings in the Real World.

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning (10minutes)

Fun test: The purpose of this test is to check what you know and what you don't know about
CORRECTION. There is no correct answer for these questions but this will help you expand your
knowledge about Correctional Administration.

Let’s have a look at this image that represents Therapeutic Community and try to answer the
following questions:

1. What is Therapeutic Community?

2. What do you think is the purpose of

Therapeutic Community?

3. Is Rehabilitation Program necessary

before we release the criminal
offenders to the community?

Photo Credit: The Gooden

Center

PHILIPPINE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

(20minutes) THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY

 The Therapeutic Community (TC) is an environment that helps people get help while helping
others. It is a treatment environment: the interactions of its members are designed to be therapeutic
within the context of the norms that require each to play the dual role of client-therapist. At a given
moment, one may be in a client role when receiving help or support from others because of a problem
behavior or when experiencing distress. At another time, the same person assumes a therapist role when
assisting or supporting another person in trouble.

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

EXAMPLE 1

Take a look at this image, you can see a

person standing at the podium giving his message
to his fellow criminal offenders. He gives his life
experiences of being a criminal offender. Telling
his journey as an offender. In this part, you can
see that his fellow criminal offenders are listening
to him. This man plays the role of a therapist.
Where his personal life experiences and
realizations could help and motivate other criminal
offenders to not lose hope and change for the
better.
(Photo credit: BJMP Laoag City)
HOW DOES TC LOOK LIKE?
The operation of the community itself is the task of the residents, working under staff supervision.
Work assignments, called “job functions” are arranged in a hierarchy, according to seniority, individual
progress and productivity. These include conducting all house services, such as cooking, cleaning,

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

kitchen service, minor repair, serving as apprentices and running all departments, conducting
meetings and peer encounter groups.

The TC operates in a similar fashion to a functional family with a hierarchical structure of older
and younger members. Each member has a defined role and responsibilities for sustaining the proper
functioning of the TC. There are sets of rules and community norms that members upon entry commit to
live by and uphold.

EXAMPLE 2

Professor’s Discussion: Therapeutic Community is a tool that the Administration uses to

prepare the client for reintegration to the community as a reformed, rehabilitated, productive, drug-free
and law abiding person. Sharing their life experiences and realizations are very essential for other
members of the community. These experiences could be relatable to them and make them feel that they
are not alone. Knowing the fact that there are people who are willing to listen to them can lessen their
depression and anxiety. (Photo Credit: Facebook)

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES
Elicit Performance (10 minutes)
Directions: Read each statement below carefully. Place a T on the
line if you think a statement is TRUE. Place an F on the line if you think
the statement is FALSE.

_____________1. Therapeutic Community is one of the Rehabilitation

Programs in our country.
_____________2. Therapeutic Community (TC) is an environment that helps
people get help while helping others.
_____________3. Members of Therapeutic Community plays a dual role of
client and therapist.
_____________4. Therapeutic Community is essential to help inmates grow
and change for the better.
_____________5. In Therapeutic Community, inmates can do whatever
they want.

WHAT ARE THE SALIENT FEATURES OF TC? (10 minutes)

1. The primary “therapist” and teacher is the

community itself, consisting of peers and staff,
who, as role models of successful personal
change, serve as guides in the recovery
process.
2. TC adheres to precepts of right living:
Truth/honesty; Here and now; Personal
responsibility for destiny; Social responsibility
(brother’s keeper); Moral Code; Inner person is
 “good” but behavior can be “bad”; Change is the
only certainty; Work ethics; Self-reliance; Psychological converges with philosophical (e.g. guilt
kills)

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

3. It believes that TC is a place where: One can change – unfold; the group can foster change;
individuals must take responsibility; structures must accommodate this; Act as if – go through the
motion. (Photo Credit: Nursing Path)

EXAMPLE OF ACTIVITIES OFFERED TO THE MEMBERS OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY

There are 5 distinct categories of activity that help promote the change among the criminal
offenders:

Relational/Behavior Management

BJMP implements the Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) to manage and modify
behaviors of PDL with the goal of positively changing their thinking and behavior through structured
group processes. The program endeavors to teach and model positive thinking, pro-social values, good
decision-making, and positive coping. Through the program, PDL are trained on socially acceptable ways
of behaving and relating with their fellow PDL and with personnel and visitors thereby fostering a
therapeutic jail environment and maintaining a peaceful communal atmosphere.

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

● Affective/Emotional/Psychological

In general, preventive mental health aimed at reducing incidence of mental health disorders and
developing positive coping mechanisms are provided to all PDL. Preventive mental health interventions
include informative seminars on stress management, psycho-educational counseling and other
supportive psychological group activities. Likewise, psycho-social support services or stress debriefing to
address trauma are facilitated for PDL after the occurrence of untoward jail incidents or in the aftermath
of devastating calamities directly affecting the PDL.

● Cognitive/Intellectual

The educational program aims to provide opportunities for PDL to achieve mandatory education.
For this reason, BJMP adopted the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education
for the PDL to earn their elementary and high school diplomas. Teachers in the jail-based ALS are BJMP
Personnel who are professional teachers and trained on the Instructional Method for ALS.

● Spiritual

PDL are provided with the opportunity to practice their faith while under custody without
discrimination, subject only to usual safety and security measures. The BJMP chaplains and imams
provide different religious services such as but not limited to mass celebrations, communal prayers,
spiritual counseling, catechism, and others. Religious organizations and their respective
ministers/pastors and leaders are accredited by BJMP to facilitate their regular contact with PDL for the
provision of religious services.

● Psychomotor/Vocational-Survival Skills

The objective of the skills training program is to equip the PDL with technical/vocational skills
which they can use in seeking employment or starting their own business after release from confinement.
To make the PDL as competitive as other potential job seekers, the skills training preferred are those
accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so that the

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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

PDL will be able to earn National Certifications. Thus, only the PDL who meet the eligibility requirements
of the specific skills training program being offered can participate.

Let’s Check In! (10minutes)

Directions: Based on the examples given above, kindly explain the following
questions in your own words.

1. What is Therapeutic Community? (Your answer must be at least 25 words)

2. What do you think is the effect of the following activity being offered under
Therapeutic Community to criminal offenders? (Your answer must be at least 20
words each)

● Behavioral Management Activity:

● Spiritual Activity
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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

Synthesis
Here are the module’s key ideas:

● The main purpose of the Rehabilitation Program is to identify the reasons why criminal
offenders committed the crime rather than knowing how big the crime was committed. ● A
Therapeutic Community is an environment that allows the criminal offenders to help other
members of the community while also getting help for themselves.

Assess performance
A. IDENTIFICATION

Directions: Please identify the following questions. (5 points)

_______ 1. A program that helps inmates grow and change and be ready to be released into the
community.
_______ 2. The primary therapist and teacher in the therapeutic community.
_______ 3. A type of activity being offered under the therapeutic community that helps reduce
incidence of mental health disorders to all inmates.
_______ 4. This activity aims to provide opportunities for PDL to achieve mandatory education.
_______ 5. This serves as the primary therapist and teacher of Therapeutic Community.

B. ESSAY

Directions: Please answer the following question. Before you begin writing, please read the
question carefully and plan what you will say. Your essay should be as well organized and as
carefully written as you can make it. it must contain at least 50 words and focus on the lesson
that has been discussed in this module. (30 Points)
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B.S. Criminology THERAPEUTIC

MODALITIES (CA3)
WEEK 2 TOPIC: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THERAPEUTIC

COMMUNITY TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. CRIMINAL OFFENDERS

2. COMMUNITY

Bibliography
● Foronda, Mercedes A. (2011), Correctional Administration 1
(Institutional Corrections), Manila:PCCr-MLC Textbook Committee

● Stohr, M. K., & Walsh, A. (2018). Corrections: From research, to policy, to practice. Los Angeles:
SAGE.

● Therapeutic communities: history, effectiveness and prospects.. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014).
Retrieved Aug 12 2021 from
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Therapeutic+communities%3a+history
%2c+effectiveness+and+pr ospects.-a021263260

● Gooii. (n.d.). Retrieved September 01, 2020, from

http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice/page11405-background-and-reasons.html
 ● https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/1156/1/prisontcs.pdf

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