N212: Health Differences Across the Life Span 2

Health Differences Across the Lifespan 2 Study Guide

©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 16 of 140 1.2 Therapeutic Modalities Therapeutic modalities are modes of interventions that can be employed to help a patient. They involve non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions. Milieu Therapy Milieu therapy uses all aspects of the hospital environment in a therapeutic manner. Patients are exposed to rules, expectations, peer pressure, and social interactions. Communication and decision making are encouraged. Opportunities are provided to enhance self-esteem and learn new skills and behaviors. The goal is to enable the patient to live outside the institutional setting. Few restraints are placed on the patient, but they are held responsible for their own actions. Milieu therapy is the treatment of the mental disorder or maladjustment by making substantial changes in a patient's immediate life circumstances and environment in a way that will enhance the effectiveness of other forms of therapy. The goal of milieu therapy is to manipulate the environment so that all aspects of the patient’s hospital experience are considered therapeutic. Within this therapeutic community setting, the patient is expected to learn adaptive coping, interaction, and relationship skills that can be generalized to other aspects of his or her life. Skinner outlined seven basic assumptions on which a therapeutic community is based: 1. The health in each individual is to be realized and encouraged to grow: All individuals are considered to have strengths as well as limitations. These healthy aspects of the individual are identified and serve as a foundation for growth in the personality and in the ability to function more adaptively and productively in all aspects of life. 2. Every interaction is an opportunity for therapeutic intervention: Within this structured setting, it is virtually impossible to avoid interpersonal interaction. The ideal situation exists for clients to improve communication and develop relationship skills. Learning occurs from immediate feedback of personal perceptions. 3. The patient owns his or her own environment: The patient makes decisions and solves problems related to government of the unit. In this way, personal needs for autonomy, as well as needs that pertain to the group as a whole, are fulfilled. 4. Each patient owns his or her behavior: Each individual within the therapeutic community is expected to take responsibility for his or her ownbehavior. 5. Peer pressure is a useful and a powerful tool: Behavioral group norms are established through peer pressure. Feedback is direct and frequent, so that behaving in a manner acceptable to the other members of the community becomesessential. 6. Inappropriate behaviors are dealt with as they occur: Individuals examine thesignificance of their behavior, look at how it affects other people, and discuss more appropriate ways of behaving in certain situations. 7. Restrictions and punishment are to be avoided: Destructive behaviors can usually be controlled with group discussion. However, if an individual requires external controls, temporary isolation is preferred over lengthy restriction or other harsh punishment.