Histories of trauma in client members of therapeutic communities

Abstract

This paper presents further data from the ATC/NLCB Therapeutic Communities Research Project, based on findings from the 306 social histories collected as part of this project. The project focused on people with personality disorders in therapeutic communities, and this paper explores some of the traumatic experiences of this sample of client members prior to their admission to a therapeutic community. We look particularly at early separations from main carers and family of origin; at losses and disability, and at experiences of physical and sexual abuse in childhood and adulthood, and see what, if any, relationship these have with personality disorders for this study sample. We also explore whether the different clients in the different types of therapeutic communities have different traumatic experiences, as evidenced by these social histories. The paper discusses the implications of these findings. © The Authors.