NON-PROFIT FOUNDATION ROSA DEI VENTI

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY For adolescents with personality disorders Casnate con Bernate (Co)

ORIGINS

► In 1997 the non-profit Association Rosa dei Venti opened a Therapeutic Community for adolescents with personality disorders; at that time it was located in Erba, between the cities of Lecco and Como, and since 2008 has been based in Casnate con Bernate, just south of Como

ORIGINS OF OUR NAME

► Since ancient times the

rosa dei venti

rose) has allowed mankind to sustainable individual direction

orient

our goal of helping residents find a (wind himself in physical space; in the same way, our idea of orientation refers to the inner, emotional and psychic space of adolescents in the TC, who are often disoriented and suffering from deprivation. Orientation also refers to

RESIDENTS

► We can accommodate up to 8 adolescents of both sexes between the ages of 13 and 18 in the TC. These young people are affected by both psychic and affective disorders, more specifically by psychopathologies diagnosed as borderline personality disorders; these are increasingly prevalent and are often viewed with less and less tolerance and a little bit of fear

PRIMARY TASK

► The objective if the CT is to activate and facilitate a learning process from experiences and therapy which are organised around the daily life activities of the TC, and to provide a container and its contents for the adolescents which are suitable to their modes and language/age group THE HOUSE ► The house is located in the town centre, close to the city of Como, the lakes and the mountains In seeking the ideal location for the TC we addressed many issues such as the size of the town, the surrounding neighbourhood, the proximity of socially constructive or dangerous locales, the architecture and the interior and

The living room

THE LENGTH OF STAY

► The length of stay in the TC is finite and temporary, the maximum stay is three years: this helps us to better define and maintain the identity of the therapeutic community for adolescents as an intermediate and transitory structure, and, as one patient stated at the end of a plenary assembly: “we have come here in order to learn how to leave…”

DEFINITION OF THE TC:

VALUES AND BASE THEORIES

► ► ►

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The therapeutic community is a living entity It is an open system that is demarcated by a membrane/boundary which both separates it from and maintains contact with the outside world, the adolescents’ family and relatives, public agencies, and the general public: this boundary, if “sufficiently” maintained and supervised, is fundamental for the success of the treatment provided in the TC as well as for the general health of the system It is a place where present-day difficulties and challenges regarding cohabitation are significantly amplified by the resident adolescents’ ages and by their specific problems

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► ► It is a place of research and action where we try to integrate educational experiences with therapeutic approaches and to sustain and realise both individual and common projects; the elements of the internal and external networks are involved “in their own unique ways”, including the adolescent and his/her parents, from the sending institution to the staff of the TC It is imperative that we assume the responsibility social of containing, holding together, and putting back together the fragments of the personality of the adolescent who is in our care

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► Our “experiential TC” model is oriented towards images, values and metaphors such as: process, desire, conflict, imagination, and by verbs such as reflect, cook, nurture, digest, echo, clean out, repair, generate, recycle…

The therapeutic network

► The actions of the therapeutic network strive towards becoming the container for the disturbed and disturbing parts of the personalities of the adolescents who reside in the TC, to bring out their potential and their levels of autonomy, and to further their reintegration into society

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► The TC Rosa dei venti is a complex micro system in continuous movement, like adolescence itself, and it is composed of interrelated subsystems that are inserted into the larger social system: consequently, the intervention includes the dimensions

self-group

and

TC-society

.

► In the TC we try to create the conditions that allow for the expression of all that is kept hidden inside of the teenaged residents: this means being present during their crises, their hysterical and paranoid moments, their violent acts and silences, their intuitions and transgressions, and to undertake together the difficult path towards a level of autonomy and a respect for life that is attainable and sustainable for them

.

► Our intent is to offer residents the

and time for listening to and expressing conflictual dynamics,

activation of a process of

transformation space

which allows for the

containment and

of disorders and traumas

The Plan ► The individualised rehabilitative intervention is summarised in the Plan and takes into consideration all the different opinions and relationships in the resident adolescent’s world ► Particular attention is paid to the admittance and dismissal phases of the adolescent’s stay ► In the co-construction phase of the Individualised Therapeutic Plan (ITP) the different stages and languages of a human being are considered important: body, emotions, mind; accordingly, signals are interpreted not only rationally but also emotionally, analogically, corporeally, and unconsciously– considerations that are often overlooked ► The ITP intends to explore and realise those scenarios resulting from the work with the resident that may offer them a methodology linked to learning how to plan an independent future for themselves ► The therapeutic process is constantly monitored, updated and shared with the resident. The treatment’s vitality and developments are also shared, along with any changes, additions and transformations that are deemed necessary ► A follow up evaluation, which includes an analysis of the data collected, is scheduled from one to five years after dismissal

Daily life

► The laboratory for living together is the house itself; upon this stage daily life plays a primary role in the therapeutic process

Theoretical base

► Our TC practice integrates the systemic-dynamic approach (Klein, Bion, Bowlby, Winnicot, Tavistock Clinic, Psycho-Social Analysis) with our own innovative methodologies ► Luca Mingarelli’s book “Adolescenze difficili: autobiografia di una Ct per adolescenti.” Ananke ed., tells the story of the TC ► Our website contains articles written by staff members covering different roles in the TC

Services offered

► ► ► Clinical area: meetings and individual interviews for small/large groups; corporeal mediation, music therapy, art therapy, psycho-motor therapy, workshops of any kind, assemblies, plenary assemblies, planning meetings Family and multi-family meetings: regular meetings with each family and meetings about the work and culture of the TC for relatives and extended family Pedagogic-artistic area: physical activities, sensorial and emotional education, theatre workshop, choral singing

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► Activities in nature: occasional/regular activities in large and small groups in different natural settings: nature becomes the third point of reference for the patient, along with the family home and the TC ► Work and study area: study activities and work-integration experiences, professional courses, job-training periods

Activities in nature

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► Hands-on workshops: making and selling of handcrafted goods, planting and cultivating a garden ► Recreational and cultural activities: sports centres, museums, cinema, theatre, concerts, libraries, social centres

Support staff system

► Selection, training, support and evaluation of personnel is managed by the Human Resources Director using an innovative procedures and methods. Individual role support, both internal staff training and use of outside consultants regarding some of the fundamental themes pertaining to adolescent communities such as: conflict, authority and role assumption, decisional capacity and leadership, assuming responsibility, the aesthetics of daily life, transgression and reparation, intercultural values, the body’s intelligence…

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► We have specifically chosen instructors from “foreign” countries such as Bali and India ► Supervision of institutional dynamics and/or clinical cases ► Quality control based on Standard Service Quality of the Community of Communities (UK), adapted to our cultural context. Use of the

Network Card

(Barone-Bruschetta)

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► Since 1988, in collaboration with other public TCs in Lombardy (A.O. Niguarda Ca’ Granda, A.O. Desio, A.O. San Gerardo Monza) we established the Gruppo di Miglioramento (Improvements Group), which meets regularly to exchange, reflect upon and evaluate the methodologies used, as well as the difficulties encountered and emerging themes; the group has organised visits to every TC

Network and Instructors/Consultants

► Associations in the network or of which we are members: the Nodo Group, Mito & Realtà, Community of Communities UK, ATC UK, Mulberry Bush School UK, Bagamoyo School/Community Tanzania, Ariele Psicosocioanalisi ► Instructors/Consultants/Supervisors: E.Pedriali, G.Foresti, M.Corulli, C.Freddi, R.Hinshelwood, C.Weber, L.Brunner, Magistrato M.Bouchard…

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► Instructors of artistic/expressive disciplines: Tapa Sudana, G. Grungo, Ajit Kumaar, M. Noiseaux, C. Petitti ► Sponsoring agency of residential workshops for TC staff: “Learning from action” with R. Hinshelwood ► For many years the directors of the TC Rosa dei venti have supported the start-up phase of many TCs on the national level

Staff

► ► ► General Director: Luca Mingarelli Clinical and Health Director: Carlo Viganò Director of Human Resources: Monica Cavicchioli ► ► ► Coordinator of Logistics/Organisation: Georgia Napolitano Head Nurse: Giuseppe Rizzetto Qualified Staff includes: TERP, instructors, social workers, psychologists (ratio staff/end-user 1:3) and expert consultants in artistic/artisanal courses and workshops

Contacts

► Administrative office and secretary: ► 031 611216, mail to: [email protected]

Via Tassera, 46 Erba, Marilena Bianconi ► TC location: via Contrada Spiazzetto, 13 Casnate con Bernate (Co) ► Website: www.rosadeiventi.org