Search results
The term “milieu therapy” was coined in Germany in the early 1900s to describe a new hospital treatment for psychiatric patients. It was first called activere behandlugen -more active therapy-and later, milieu therapie.
- Leon Hoffman
- 1982
Milieu therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves the use of therapeutic communities. Patients join a group of around 30, for between 9 and 18 months. During their stay, patients are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and the others within the unit, based upon a hierarchy of collective consequences.
These basic theoretical concepts of milieu therapy and therapeutic community are applicable to the types of treatments children receive in psychiatric hospitals or residential treatment centers (Barker, 1974). T he first children's psychiatric units were opened in the 1920s.
- Leon Hoffman
- 1982
Although there were a few early efforts to make hospital environments conducive to the recovery of patients, the terms therapeutic community and milieu therapy came into the language largely after the publication of a book by Jones in 1953 describing his hospital work.
- Anita Werner O’Toole, Sheila Rouslin Welt
- 1994
- Overview
- How does milieu therapy work?
- What are the guiding principles of milieu therapy?
- What conditions does milieu therapy treat?
- How effective is milieu therapy?
- Who performs milieu therapy?
- Are there any risks or disadvantages to know about?
- The bottom line
Milieu therapy is a method for treating mental health conditions using a person’s surroundings to encourage healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
“Milieu” means “middle” in French. This treatment approach may be known as milieu therapy (MT) because those in the program are immersed in a small, structured community focused on helping them develop skills and behaviors that’ll enable them to live healthier lives in a larger society.
Some of its earliest proponents described MT as a living-learning environment.
MT has been around in various forms for over a century. Though its particulars continue to evolve, its primary method has remained consistent: People are surrounded by a safe, structured community in which their daily activities and interactions are the means of receiving therapy.
In milieu therapy, you spend a significant amount of time in a home-like environment, interacting with other people as you conduct ordinary activities throughout the day. You may attend group or individual therapy sessions as part of your schedule.
You’ll establish your treatment goals and make decisions for yourself, as well as participate in making decisions for the community. As challenges arise in the course of your day, you learn new ways of responding from your peers and counselors.
A safe, structured environment
MT programs emphasize routines, boundaries, and open communication to build trust between the people in the program. To help accomplish these goals, therapists use predictable, reliable responses when communicating with participants. The aim is to create a stable, adaptive reality so that people feel safe enough to learn and change.
Interdisciplinary treatment teams
Most people in MT programs receive care from people in different healthcare professions. When treatment teams are made up of professionals from different disciplines, patients get the benefit of a variety of skill sets and perspectives. Some studies have shown that interdisciplinary teams help the treatment team develop better goals for their patients. These teams help foster a good learning climate and a sense of equality between clients and staff members.
Mutual respect
One of the most powerful aspects of this treatment approach is the idea that everyone in the program — therapists and patients alike — deserves respect. Most MT programs intentionally focus on creating supportive, caring environments in which people can talk about their experiences with each other as they move through the day. MT settings don’t operate with a traditional hierarchy where therapists have most of the decision-making authority and participants have little control over their environments.
MT can be used to treat almost any psychological or behavioral condition. An MT ethos is often part of the treatment approach at addiction rehabilitation facilities, in weight loss groups, and in residential and outpatient clinics that treat behavior disorders.
Some researchers have concluded that MT is a good way to create a therapeutic foundation for individuals with eating disorders. In these therapeutic settings, patients have examples of effective skills, which allows them to learn new skills and helps them develop feelings of trust and hope.
As with any treatment method, the success of milieu therapy varies from group to group.
At least one study of individuals receiving inpatient treatment for dual diagnoses showed that when exercise was incorporated into MT, patients felt they were getting clear, concrete benefits, including building new habits and developing a sense of mastery.
The answer to this question also varies from group to group. In some settings, licensed mental health professionals establish treatment goals and act as role models.
In more informal club or meeting settings, the members of the group provide therapy to each other under the guidance of a group facilitator.
The vulnerability of the treatment team
Like any other form of therapy or treatment, MT presents some problems. If you’re considering an MT environment, one factor to consider is the ratio of staff to patients. When there aren’t enough nurses, therapists, and other caregivers, the treatment team may feel a greater need to control the environment, which may lead to a more authoritarian communication style. An authoritarian hierarchy runs counter to the aims of a good MT program. Some caregivers, including nurses and therapists, have reported that they sometimes feel vulnerable in MT. Some worry that they could be physically or emotionally hurt by patients. Others expressed a feeling that they weren’t equal to the professional demands that milieu therapy presents. If you’re considering an MT program, it might be worthwhile to talk to the team members to find out how safe and supported they feel, as their outlook could have an impact on people in the treatment community.
The need for transition
One of the primary concerns about milieu therapy is that people in the program might have a hard time adjusting to life outside the milieu or treatment setting. For most people, milieu therapy is temporary — the goal is to learn skills that help them function and cope outside. If you’re thinking about an MT program, consider talking to the treatment team about what support is available to people who leave the program after treatment has ended.
Milieu therapy is a therapeutic method in which a safe, structured group setting is used to help people learn healthier ways of thinking, interacting, and behaving in a larger society.
Sometimes, MT takes place in an in-patient setting, but it can also be effective in informal outpatient settings like support groups.
MT emphasizes shared responsibility, mutual respect, and positive peer influence. It’s been used to treat a wide variety of psychological and behavioral conditions. But like many treatment methods, its effectiveness varies depending on the community and therapists involved.
If you’re considering MT, it’s important to find a program that offers support as you transition from the treatment environment to the larger society.
Jan 1, 1982 · The term “milieu therapy” was coined in Germany in the early 1900s to describe a new hospital treatment for psychiatric patients. It was first called activere behandlugen-more active...
People also ask
When was milieu therapy invented?
What is milieu therapy?
Which organizations use milieu therapy?
When did psychiatric treatment start?
What are some concerns about milieu therapy?
The term “milieu therapy” was coined in Germany in the early 1900s to describe a new hospital treatment for psychiatric patients. It was first called activere behandlugen-more active therapy-and later, milieu therapie.
