Integrated sociotherapy – IS from rehabilitation to recovery integrating sociotherapy and cognitivism in a TC for borderline personality disorders

What is it about?

Recovery of severe borderline personality disorder (BPD) occurs more speedily and efficaciously when biological, psychological and social needs are met at the same time.there is a rationale for integrating: a) Sociotherapy, which helps modify social identity by experiencing new functional roles other than the 'sick role'; b) Psychological group therapies to help restore attachment issues and new trust in the intimacy of interpersonal relationships; c) teaching and practice personal skills to deal with Biological aspect of aggressiveness, impulsivity, hyper-reactivity and maladaptive neurobiological reaction to psychological traumas. The latter require special resouces which Cognitivie disciplines like STEPPS, SCHEMA Therapy and EMDR provide to persons with non severe BPD. The paper explains why and how to implement Integrated Sociotherapy in residential or non residential TC.

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Why is it important?

Our experience shows that group-living and social learning together are potentiated by the integration of teaching strategies to patients to manage their disturbed emotional intensity. Cognitive approaches simplify the understanding of maladaptive cognitive patterns due to unfavorable traumatic circumstances during upbringing. Skills and awareness can be learned over short time periods - within weeks - and practiced throughout the rehab program. Thus, patients helped at individual and social level at the same time quickly see changes in themselves; they grow a sense of mastering and control over their emotions and maladaptive reactions to social intercourse. All this enhances confidence in the program and in the idea they will not be patients forever before well before the end of their program.

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