Sociotherapy, profession and professional code

• definition of Sociotherapie
• general methods of approach of Sociotherapy
• theoretical lines of approach in Sociotherapy
  • socialization
  • sociotherapeutic work in relationship with social systems
  • sociotherapeutic work in relationship to social identity
• arrangement of sociotherapeutic interventions
• task areas
• the sociotherapeutic quality of treatment
• professional code for sociotherapists
• literature and organizations

Theoretical lines of approach in Sociotherapy

Sociotherapeutic work in relationship with social systems

Human beings need others in order to give form to their existence. A person's environment can be seen as a social system, with several characteristic variables, in which the person functions with others. Human beings form social systems. They are mutually dependent members of these systems.
Nothing is naturally laid down in social systems. Their origin, operation and meaning are derived from the joint choices of the members who form the systems. Social systems make human functioning possible.

• Sometimes certain social systems are really disastrous for the development of one or more persons and these people become 'sick' through living in such a system.
   
• Sometimes a person cannot function within an in itself healthy social system. This can come to the point where this one person can create a situation in which none of the members this system can function properly.

In both cases clinical assistance may be necessary.

The clinic can be seen as a social system to which people are admitted for a short or longer period of time, in order to learn how to deal with themselves and others and to reduce their disturbing behavior. Sociotherapists give such a form to the clinical system, that the clients admitted to the system can function to the optimal extent. Therefore knowledge of social systems is necessary for the sociotherapists.

Houweling-Meijers & Visser mention, from a system-theoretical viewpoint, the functions of social systems that influence the way in which social systems operate. Using the social systems theory, they distinguish the following system functions: meaning, goal attainment, limit setting, structuring, empowerment.

A social system is meaningful to its participants (in the clinical setting these are the clients and the staff) when:

• the aim of the social system is understood and shared by the participants
   
• the limits of the social system are clear and mutually agreed upon and respected by all participants
   
• the structure in terms of the degree of authority, is clear and respected by the participants
   
• there is sufficient energy among the participants to give attention to target, limits and structure.

The system has especially meaning for the members themselves. They attribute meaning to the system. This meaning is the reason for the existence of social systems.
In order to preserve a social system the members must experience the meaning, and the environment must accept the meaning. The meaning can be fulfilled if the external goals and the internal functions are attended to.
External goals and internal functions are achieved through the way of functioning of social systems. Functioning means: striving to achieve external goals and looking after the internal functions like limit setting, structuring and empowerment. All the dealings and happenings in a system compliment each other in order to preserve a certain balance or to achieve one.
Members of a social system create a particular balance, which is of importance to the continuing existence of the system.
In every system the actions of the members can lead in two directions: towards a 'healthy' or towards a 'less healthy' balance for the members.
Sociotherapists must give form to the system functions with observance of the possibilities and limits of the client group. They must also see to it that these functions are fulfilled in an appropriate manner and they should realize which clients will or will not profit from it. In this way sociotherapists can fulfill an important role in the recovery of the clients and take care that the clients are not treated or guided in a clinical system not fitted to their needs for well-being.
Different groups of clients demand different kinds of clinical settings, with a tailor-made packet of system functions, appropriate to their problems. In this way they can profit from a clinical admission because they come into a system that is fitted to their needs.

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