Deinstitutionalization approach and user associations as models for therapy and healing

Workshop with inputs and practical elements


The User Association (UA) approach to reintegration and healing is a model that encourages users of mental health care services (patients of psychiatric clinics, psychotherapy and such) to form their associations where they manage the association, work with other people with similar problems, lead counselling groups, engage in projects etc. This model is part of a general deinstitutionalization approach that stresses more social elements of healing and therapy beginning from the 1960s, e. g. in Bosnia or Italy.

The idea of the model to empower the users of psychotherapeutic and psychiatric services to be an active participant in their recovery after their formal treatment, with a particular focus on social aspects. The end goal is reintegration of people back into society, so they feel accepted and independent in their day-to-day lives.

Target Audience
IPU Students of late Bachelor and all Master level.


Presenters

  • Adrian Soltoković, Assistant Lecturer at the University of Tuzla. Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tuzla Currently writing his Master thesis
     
  • Nejra Tinjić, Psychologist and project coordinator for Association for Mutual Assistance in Mental Distress TK “Feniks” Tuzla” (https://tkfenix.ba/) Bachelor’s degree of Pedagogy-Psychology from the University of Tuzla

Dates and Program

The Workshops (W) will be available in hybrid format.
The maximum number of participants is 25.

Day 1: Wednesday 25 September 2024, 10:00 am - 17:00 pm

Introduction To the Social Model of Psychopathology
 

Day 2: Thursday 26 September 2024, 10:00 am - 17:00 pm

User Associations and NGOs role in Mental Health Aftercare
 

Day 3: Friday 27 September 2024, 10:00 am – 15:00 pm

Practical Application of The User Association Model – Self-help groups
 

Participants will receive a certificate issued by the Office for Studies and Teaching of the IPU Berlin. Participation can be noted in the transcript of records with 1 credit point “extracurricular” (or 2 if a written report of 2 pages is added).

Program

Additionally, participants will receive:

  • The full script of all the lectures and theories with references that students can use to further study the idea.
     
  • A translated small book on the history of a psychiatric clinic that used a similar model in the past called “Jakeš”.
     
  • Pamphlets and other materials used in the workshop.


Participation fees
The lecture and workshop series has no participation fee

Registration and Cancellation

To register, please fill out the registration form in the following link: Registration

If you wish to cancel, please let us know by sending us an email at alumni.support(at)ipu-berlin.de. As the maximum number of participants is 25, we ask you to please let us know if you wish to cancel ahead of time to give somebody else the chance to participate.