Eric Broekaert (1951-2016): the life and legacy of a TC pioneer and integrative thinker
Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities
ISSN: 0964-1866
Article publication date: 11 September 2017
Abstract
Purpose
Eric Broekaert passed away shortly after the XVIth European Working group on Drug-Oriented Research (EWODOR)-conference in Rome on 28 September 2016. He was one of the great TC pioneers in Europe, who founded the first TC for addictions in Belgium (De Kiem) and co-founded the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities and EWODOR. He was a respected Professor of “Orthopedagogics” at Ghent University and a Member of the Editorial Collective of Therapeutic Communities: the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities. The paper aims to discuss the overview of the career of Eric Broekaert.
Design/methodology/approach
In this obituary, the authors provide an overview of his career, major achievements and theoretical, methodological and integrative ideas, clustered around four typologies: university professor and scholar; manager and source of inspiration; TC pioneer and believer, and integrative thinker.
Findings
Besides his obvious merits as a TC researcher and advocate, one of his major theoretical contributions has been the introduction of the holistic, integrative approach and the idea that diverse types of interventions, as well as methodological approaches can alternatively go together.
Originality/value
He regarded TCs as the ultimate integration of various educational and therapeutic approaches to promote growth and quality of life among severely disadvantaged populations, such as drug addicts and children and adults with emotional and behavioural disorders.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
“Eric was, and will always remain, a special man to me in many ways: a warm and charismatic personality, an absent-minded professor, a brilliant mind and scientist who often had to swim upstream, but realised some grand exploits” (Wouter Vanderplasschen).
“I will always cherish the many thought-provoking moments with Eric, who was a truly wise and warm mentor. Generous with his knowledge and friendship, humorous in a refined way, loyal and open, modest and unpretending, intelligent and sharp. Every inch a scientist and integrative thinker” (Stijn Vandevelde).
“Eric believed in the connection of people. He was convinced that a positive and cheerful encounter could be the start of something great. Eric was my friend and inspiration” (Franky D’Oosterlinck).
“With the foundation of “De Kiem” and his academic work on addictions, Eric gave indirectly thousands of drug addicts a new future. Also, he inspired many hundreds of staff members working with drug addicts” (Dirk Vandevelde).
“Eric was my inspiration to look beyond the walls of “orthopedagogics”. He was inspired himself by (post-) modern philosophical thinkers and left no idea untouched. I loved his wholeheartedness to connect with people and infusing them with new ideas and perspectives” (Jan Naert).
“I first met Eric in 1978 in Rome at a WFTC conference and we were friends, colleagues and co-workers for almost 40 years. He was a huge influence on my work and thinking over those years and his death leaves for me, an enormous hole in my life. I miss him terribly” (Rowdy Yates).
Citation
Vanderplasschen, W., Vandevelde, S., D’Oosterlinck, F., Vandevelde, D., Naert, J. and Yates, R. (2017), "Eric Broekaert (1951-2016): the life and legacy of a TC pioneer and integrative thinker", Therapeutic Communities: The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 125-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/TC-02-2017-0008
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited