ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The theory of social practice describes a therapeutic community process for people living with serious mental illness, while the methods involve engaging people to become collaborators and contributors to a social environment. Confusion in the mental health field surrounding the applied methods of social practice-as occurring within the clubhouse model-has not been sufficiently addressed. This article aims to outline the methodology of social practice, as well as provide guidance on its practical application. METHODS: Specific constructs of social practice are defined, and empirical support is provided to emphasize how practices to support recovery are applied in the clubhouse. RESULTS: Five key elements of social practice-that is, transformational social design, engagement, relationship development, natural feedback and intervention, and transitional environments-are described. Practical examples of therapeutic techniques associated with each element are also provided. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Social practice addresses the social determinants of health by focusing on five key elements that support individual and community recovery. Here, we detail social practice techniques utilized in the clubhouse as a way of unifying theory, providing practical guidance to mental health professionals and improving the measurement of community as therapy for serious mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
