TCTC Research and Development Group
The TCTC R+D Group seeks to support members in engaging with research, both in generating evidence from practice but also engaging in the wider world and applying research to service development.
- Identify the research needs and interests of its members
- To support and promote research in relational practice
- To develop and update a research strategy for TCTC
- To support members in carrying out research
- To work alongside the editor of the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities to promote and disseminate research
- To review research proposals submitted to TCTC
- Organise seminars to provide members with the opportunity to present their research to peers
- To work closely with the Community of Communities Quality Network and the Enabling Environments project at the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s Centre for Quality Improvement, to provide feedback, advice and support
The Research and development group work closely with the Journal editor and editorial board to publish papers that critically and creatively engage with ideas drawn from a range of discourses: the therapeutic community movement and other related professional practice, psychoanalysis, art, literature, poetry, music, architecture, culture, education, philosophy, religion and environmental studies .
Please see our dedicated page for our academic journal Therapeutic Communities for more information. If you wish to find out more information about joining the R&D group, or publishing your work in the journal, please contact admin@therapeuticcommunities.org
TCTC believes that research helps to support, develop and promote relationship-based practice in all social environments. Our Research and Development Group encourages a research culture amongst our members. This will both inform the ongoing improvement of the work and also demonstrate its efficacy.
The TCTC R&D Group is open to anyone interested in research, evaluation and service development. The Group is run on behalf of TCTC members. Its activities are open to all.
As a member of the Group you will receive notifications about the Group’s activities and be able to invite responses from Group members to questions related to R&D in TCs, Enabling Environments and others who share similar values. You will also have the opportunity to participate in occasional projects that are co-ordinated by Group members.
The TCTC R&D Group organise seminars to discuss key issues in the field and to give members opportunity to present their research to their peers. It also works closely with the Community of Communities Quality Network and the Enabling Environments project at the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s Centre for Quality Improvement, to provide feedback and support on relevant issues.
The Group is organised by a Steering Group that is supported by a number of Special Advisors, who have offered to make their expertise available to members. Group members are also involved in keeping our database of research up to date, supporting activities, initiating projects, keeping the website up to date, etc.
If you would like to join the TCTC R&D Group, please add R&D to your newsletter subscription settings by clicking this link, entering your information and clicking subscribe to list. If you are already a subscriber you will be able to edit your profile with a given link at the top of the form.
To contact us, email
admin@therapeuticcommunities.org. We would also like to hear about any research you have been or are involved in. We are preparing a database of current and completed research. More information will be available shortly.
R&D Steering Group
The TCTC R&D work is led by a steering group, supported by a network of special advisors.
Steering Group
The Group meets quarterly to plan the work of the TCTC R&D Group. Steering Group members make a commitment to attend a minimum of 3 out of 4 meetings per year. Meetings are in London at 11-3pm.
Members also have active involvement in one or more projects run by the Group, whether organising a seminar, participating in co-ordinating a research project, maintaining the website, representing and disseminating issues related to their sector, etc.
Special Advisors
Special Advisors to the Group are members who have a specific academic or professional expertise in an area of research that they are willing to make available to the Group from time to time.
It is hoped that Special Advisors will be able to:
- attend (and perhaps speak at) a minimum of 1 seminar per year
- provide on-line support to a minimum of 1 project per year
- respond to email requests forwarded by the Steering Group from Group members related to their expertise
- keep in touch with the R&D discussions
If you would like to participate in the Steering Group or be a Special Advisor to the Group, please email
Register your Research
TCTC is very interested in hearing about your research activities. We will be working on these pages over the coming months and building up a database of research activity and ideas which will be useful to members and visitors alike.
If you know of any research, are conducting any research in your TC or have done so in the past, we would like to know about it. Please email us with details.
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