"Feeling responsible for making decisions helps to ground me, helps me feel like I belong"

A resident in one of our Therapeutic Recovery Communities shares his experience of how finding a supportive community where he had a stake in decision-making has made a difference to his feelings of belonging.

"When I first came to CHT, I was so nervous. I hadn't liked my previous accommodation, I kept running away, and the police brought me back. I wasn't sure what to expect.

Being in a new environment was definitely a shock to the system, but everyone made an effort to make me feel welcome. Me and my support worker went for walks together and chatted, which really helped me settle in.

When I first started therapy, I was really uncomfortable. But my support worker encouraged me to keep trying, and to also come to groups. I started to come to our weekly community meeting and form connections with people. Feeling responsible for making decisions helps to ground me, helps me feel like I belong. It's also about feeling that what I have to say matters.

I feel like I am currently doing well for myself. I'm in therapy consistently, coming to groups and enjoying them, making jokes again, and just being me—an open book. I am still nervous about life after CHT, but I know that through the support here, I will be ready when the time is right".

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The importance of community meetings

Community meetings are weekly meetings where residents and staff come together to make decisions around the running of the community, democratically as a group. They are an important way to build trust, address conflict, share information and facilitate building positive, supportive relationships with peers.

Community meetings are a core principle of the Therapeutic Community model, an evidence-based approach that empowers residents to develop life and social skills through daily activities and the management of the community.

Learn more about life in our communities.