Principles and Philosophies of the Frost School Therapeutic Community
The Frost School's Behavior Management Policy is
based on the philosophies and principles of a therapeutic community (TC). Every aspect of the classroom, counseling
sessions, workday, outings, family sessions, and social times are guided by
these principles.
- Emphasis is placed on the current behavior of the student in interaction with the social process of the school.
- Emphasis is placed on helping the student see,
understand, take responsibility for and, ultimately, alter his/her
characteristic ways of INTERACTING with others around him/her.
- Primary objectives are to have students be aware
of and respect the social expectations around them.
- In the Frost School Therapeutic Community, the
traditional, confidential, one-to-one patient/counselor relationship is largely
supplanted by a large and highly visible network of relationships with students
and staff.
- The intent is that ALL relationships have
'healing properties'. The student is
expected to participate actively and responsibly - not only in his/her own
treatment - but in the treatment of fellow students as well. Treatment responsibility is distributed
among all students and staff.
- Much
of the treatment takes place in the daily meetings. A student's BEHAVIOR is discussed by
his/her peers, and the student is helped to face the social consequences
of his/her behavior. Social
pressure is brought in an effort to produce behavior that is in conformity
with the social norm of the school. Reality
testing and recognition of reality are carried out within the same
context. Distortions and
projections are examined while appropriate problem solving efforts are
actively supported.
- The Frost School places a very high value on
communication of feelings and information. In order to improve the quality and quantity of communications, a
democratic atmosphere is cultivated. Social distance between staff and students is reduced so behavior of
BOTH can be discussed. ALL members of
the community - staff and students - are expected to take responsibility for the
success of the community. This is done
by discussing their feelings, feeding information into discussions, being part
of the decision-making process, accepting group consensus, being responsive to
social pressure, being supportive when someone needs help, and confronting
others in a non-punitive way.
- Students learn from staff the values, attitudes
and behaviors that are acceptable. The
students who have been in the TC for a while are to take on the role of
"community leaders" and are expected to transmit the values and attitudes to
new students. This value system is
TAUGHT to our students in the everyday encounters they have with the staff and
other students.
- We teach impulse control, planning for the
future, postponement of gratification, interpersonal skills, and stress
management in the day-to-day interactions with other community members. It takes time, patience, affirmation,
honesty, accountability, and luck too!
- Most ALL treatment takes place in a group (class
or counseling) context. This process of
interaction is the key to change. The
issues addressed can be unimportant. The important part of the treatment is the PROCESS of the issues
addressed: the interactions, the support, the
accountability, the sharing of similar stories, the feedback, the
suggestions, the acceptance, etc. Working TOGETHER - staff and students -the TC can solve ANY issue and can
be the healing process that permits people to accept themselves, deal differently
with others, and move on in their lives. Each member of the TC is expected to bring his/her gifts, abilities, and
talents to the other members of our community.
- Staff's role is to facilitate the process of
healing by modeling our set of values to our students and community.
- Teachers primarily 'model' the community values
in the classroom. Counselors do this in
the group settings. Other staff members
model the values in their supportive role. Each must understand his/her role in the community and support others in
their role.
Therapeutic Community in Action
Learn more about the therapeutic community at the Frost School through several students' recent experiences at the Red Cross Leadership Camp.
