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The purpose of this paper is to reflect on how Eric Broekaert perceived “Ortho-pedagogy” as an academic discipline.

The authors try to get a grasp on Broekaert’s point of view while cross-reading three central articles in which he explains his integrated and holistic paradigm of education.

One could argue that, while claiming that the different epistemological, ontological and methodological approaches underlying Eric Broekaert’s paradigm of holistic education are not easily integrated, the potential paradoxes he produced in this claim also enabled a “choc des idées” and challenged and enlightened a wide diversity of researchers and practitioners in taking a partial, locatable, critical, reflexive and temporary stance in educational praxis (Lather, 1991).

The authors discuss how Broekaert, as a companion in life, enabled them to cautiously embrace tensions, paradoxes and complexities in the development of an educational praxis.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The purpose of this paper is to search for connections rather than particularisation, for two exceptional figures: Broekaert and Platel, and to explore the intersections between science and art, art and science.

In this paper the authors work with a bricolage of possible lines and layers in a complex web of stories associated with the life story, career and private life of Eric Broekaert and of Alain Platel.

Broekaert felt the need to look for methods which had been tested in accordance with the models of hard science. In addition, and in alternating combinations, he searched for deeper layers via etymology, history, philosophy and art. Orthopedagogics as a righteous search for a good/happy life. For Platel, the choreographer of Ballets C de la B, accepting the imperfect/unfinished/abnormal brought the world of orthopedagogics and his work with dancers closer together. The “suffering”, the “abnormal” and the fear and aversion to these, the beautiful/poetic in what is different, looking at the abnormal and wanting to be looked at … are all questions which arise and connect orthopedagogics as a science with Platel’s productions. Platel poses the question: in what world do we want to live?

The authors need Eric Broekaert, Alain Platel and their work as a source of inspiration and as a bridge to new, not yet enough discovered ways of looking at “difference”.

As a tribute to Eric Broekaert, the purpose of this paper is to look back at a 2004 paper he wrote on the integration of paradigms of care and reports on how this is reflected in an ongoing multidisciplinary study at Ghent University.

In 2014, the authors began a research project to develop multidisciplinary strengths-based strategies for a vulnerable group of people, in this case people with a mental illness who offend. The authors chose a strength-based research design for the study, in order to focus on individuals’ capabilities, qualities and assets, rather than on deficits, incapacities or problems.

Three elements from Eric Broekaert’s work have inspired the research project. First, it is not possible to carry out research and interact with vulnerable persons devoid of the political, social and cultural context. Second, the authors should not restrict to one discipline or one paradigm when building (academic) knowledge and in practice. Third, the central aim of any practice should be to empower vulnerable people, improve their quality of life and challenge aspects of society that alienate and exclude them.

Eric Broekaert’s belief in the power of encounter and integration, reflected in his 2004 paper, continues to influence this work. As an open-minded enabler and critical integrator, he has left very visible traces in the research environment at Ghent University and beyond. Inspired by his thoughts and personality, new generations of researchers across many disciplines follow in his footsteps, jointly searching for what unites us as human beings rather than what divides us.

Influenced by evolutions in mental health, a meeting house, “Villa Voortman”, was recently developed. It is based on an integration of therapeutic community (TC) and psychoanalytical Lacanian thinking. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the position of Villa Voortman in the treatment continuum for dually diagnosed clients. Two research questions are addressed: how does Villa Voortman operate ? and how do clients perceive the Villa?

The first question was tackled by a personal account of the founders of Villa Voortman. The second question was addressed by a qualitative study using video-material of 19 visitors’ personal accounts.

The visitors mentioned three themes: social inclusion, personal development and equality. These aspects are further refined into sub-themes including the provision of “asylum”; the instalment of a warm and welcoming atmosphere; the focus on real human encounter; a permissive, supportive and “waiting” environment; a minimal but “good enough” structure; the necessity of a place where persons can develop themselves; the striving for social inclusion and future perspectives; and the support in becoming inclusive citizens again.

The value of the paper lies in disclosing the visitors’ lived experience. This is an essential part of shedding light on the “active ingredients” of support, In reference to the title, visitors nor treatment staff have “carte blanche” with regard to how support develops, as this is driven by the dialectal course of everything that occurs during the support process.

Even though there is much information available with regard to the development of the therapeutic community (TC) for addictions in Europe, little is known about the particular situation in Denmark.The paper aims to discuss this issue.

In order to address this dearth, the methodology of the following historical account is largely based on an interview and personal contacts with Hanne Holm Hage-Ali, current director of TC Opbygningsgården and star witness of the development of TC in Denmark.

In 1971, the Freetown “Christiania”, Copenhagen, where TC Opbygningsgården started up, was based on communal, anarchic and hippie ideas and values. In the beginning, TC Opbygningsgården was not well accepted by TC pioneers promoting the classic hierarchical TC, as it was seen as a social experiment with anti-authoritarian roots. Later, in its turn, it became influenced by TCs Veksthuset and Phoenix House Haga, Norway, which were part of the common European TC movement. At this moment, TC Opbygningsgården functions as a well-accepted member of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities.

The interview revealed information that it is line with current trends in and challenges for TC throughout Europe, as outlined in a recent EMCDDA study: TC in Europe can be considered as “children of the late sixties”; TCs are embedded in the anti-psychiatric movement, existentialism and the promotion of alternative community living; European TC leaders had different origins and professional background; and the TC never belonged to one religion or ideology. The common human value system always transcended the different visions.

This paper aims at addressing the dearth in knowledge on the development of TCs in Denmark.

Organisations working with children have acknowledged that unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) across Europe are exposed to environments and situations that put them at risk for becoming addicted to drugs or becoming involved in crime. The purpose of this paper is to study an examination of existing international research concerning URM and of whether, and if so how, issues relating to drug use and criminality among these children are discussed in the international literature.

A literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Sociological abstracts and ERIC databases, which together cover the social and behavioural science and also medicine.

Findings from the present review show that the issues of drug abuse and criminality among URM are rarely acknowledged in the international research literature. When the occurrence of substance abuse and/or criminality is discussed, it is often in relation to mental health problems and in terms of self-medication, i.e. that alcohol or drugs are used by the URM to cope with painful experiences or mental health problems, and also with the challenges of integrating into a new society, difficulties finding work, unsuitable living conditions and a lack of social support.

This review shows that several researchers have emphasised that untreated mental health problems, stressful living conditions and a lack of support and control might put these children at risk for substance abuse and criminality, and this suggests a need for further research in this area.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the main findings and conclusions of four separate studies on treatment in therapeutic communities (TCs) for addictions.

The first two studies address the core characteristics of the TC approach: a study on the workable and destructive elements of the Synanon model; and a comparative study on the essential elements of TCs for addictions in Europe and in the USA. The final two studies highlight clients’ perceptions of the TC treatment process in relation to retention: a study on clients’ first month perceptions of the TC treatment process and the influence of fixed and dynamic client factors; and a longitudinal study on changes in clients’ perception of the TC treatment process and the impact of motivation, psychological distress and cluster B personality traits.

The first study showed that Synanon’s therapeutic and pedagogical methods are still highly valued despite its negative reputation. The results of the second study suggest that while traditional TCs operate as concept-based TCs in Europe, modified TCs might differ in the extent to which they apply the core principles and elements of the TC approach. The third study provides evidence that suitability for treatment is a very important predictor for clients’ first month perceptions of the community environment. The fourth study shows that with time in treatment clients develop more profound perceptions regarding the essence of TC treatment.

Finally, implications for clinical practice, general limitations and some concrete recommendations for future research are presented in this paper.

The PhD summary study contributes to the existing literature on TC treatment.

Deviant behavior was punished during the middle ages. In the seventeenth century, people were locked up in asylums. A first step towards humanization was taken by the founders of the moral treatment movement in the nineteenth century, but it declined at the end of that century. What we today call “milieu therapy” represents a new phase in treating mental illness and deviance. After the Second World War, the therapeutic community (TC) method was widely implemented in Europe, but the needs of different target populations were not dealt with equally. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

In this contribution, the treatment needs of diverse populations of female drug abusers are addressed. Selected literature and research findings for women in mixed and gender-specific treatment are presented.

The conclusion is that we need a women and family perspective in substance abuse treatment and research. Moreover, a holistic and multidisciplinary treatment approach is needed since so many factors and aspects are involved.

Treatment programs should focus on long-term lifestyle changes and be tailored to the specific needs of diverse target populations. Modified TCs for women and men with children and/or dual diagnosis are definitely the future for TCs.