As the holidays unfold I have found some time to read, which is something I often have to squeeze into the hectic SENCo schedule during term time.

After my fascination with the controversial term ‘refrigerator mothers’. I thought it would be interesting to find out more about the infamous Dr B, by reading Richard Pollak’s biography of Bettelheim*. He really does sum up the brilliance and controversy of his subject’s life and legacy.

Before beginning to read the book, I was relatively open-minded; surely such an eminent and authoritative figure couldn’t have been all bad?  Indeed, even as I read through the chapters on Bettelheim’s aggressive stance towards parents of children attending the Orthogenic School, and despite the subsequent reports that many children were abused when in his care, I still found some of his developing ideas and ideals stimulating.

One that has had a particular impact upon my thinking of late is the idea of a ‘therapeutic milieu’. This term was first used by Bettelheim and Emmy Sylvester in 1949** to describe the ‘all-encompassing’ healing atmosphere they sought to develop at the Orthogenic School; a residential treatment institution for the rehabilitation of children with severe emotional disturbances.

Bettelheim and Sylvester felt that, while one-on-one therapy was appropriate for adults, a therapeutic community – or therapeutic milieu – was more suitable for troubled children. Bettelheim in particular believed that there were significant beneficial group effects from this form of treatment, and encouraged almost unconditional gratification of the child’s basic needs, a secure protective setting and carefully measured doses of reality***.

Whatever you might think of Bettelheim’s methods, I think his ideas provide some significant stimulus for further thought.

I believe that we are all corporately responsible. At our school, I have always tried to ensure that the staff are given thorough SEN training.  Every member of school staff should understand the specific needs of the students who attend our school.

Watch this space for further developments of a modern and inclusive ‘therapeutic milieu’…

* Pollack, R. (1998) The Creation of Doctor B: A Biography of Bruno Bettelheim (Touchstone)

** Bettelheim, B., Sylvester, E. (1949) ‘Milieu Therapy: Indications and Illustrations’, Psychoanalytic Review 36, 54-68

*** Zimmerman, D.P., Cohler, B.J. (2001) ‘From Disciplinary Control of Benign Milieu in Children’s Residential Treatment’, Zimmerman, D.P., The Forsaken Child: Essays on Group Care and Individual Therapy (Haworth Press), p38