1. What's your opinion? The experience of therapeutic climate in a treatment facility for adults with mild intellectual disability and severe challenging behavior
- Author
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Helmond, P., Vermaes, I.P.R., Helm, G.H.P. van der, Helmond, P., Vermaes, I.P.R., and Helm, G.H.P. van der
- Abstract
Contains fulltext : 158386.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access), Aim: A therapeutic climate is important so that clients can optimally develop themselves. In a treatment facility for adults with mild intellectual disability and severe challenging behavior we assessed clients’ experiences of therapeutic climate in relation to their internalizing and externalizing behavior. Method: A sample of N = 57 clients was recruited for the study. The majority (79%) were male with a mean age of 34.5 years and mean IQ score of 63. Clients filled out the Therapeutic Climate Questionnaire. Staff reported on clients’ behavior using the Adult Behavior Checklist. Results: Clients reported moderate levels of therapeutic climate concerning the elements support, growth, repression and atmosphere. Therapeutic climate varies between group homes ranging from low to high levels. In addition, 87% of the clients had a borderline or clinical score regarding internalizing and externalizing problems. Using correlational analysis we found that higher levels of repression and lower levels of atmosphere were related to higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Conclusion: Therapeutic climate and internalizing and externalizing problems are related in a sample of adults with mild intellectual disability and severe challenging. Based on the results the facility is working on improving the therapeutic climate.
- Published
- 2014