Three Therapeutic Residential Care Models, the Sanctuary Model, Positive Peer Culture and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Their Application to the Theory of Congruence

Clarke, A. (2011). Three therapeutic residential care models, the sanctuary model, positive peer culture and dyadic developmental psychotherapy and their application to the theory of congruence. Children Australia, 36, 2, 81–87. DOI 10.1375/jcas.36.2.81 Therapeutic residential care is a service model being funded within the Queensland out-of-home care sector within the last 24 months. The Department of Communities (Child Safety Services) has identified therapeutic residential care as the service model that will effectively meet the needs of young people in out-of-home care with complex and extreme behaviours and needs, who are a risk to themselves and others (Department of Child Safety, 2008). Given this new direction within the out-of-home care sector this article will explore three therapeutic approaches to out-of-home residential care, including the Sanctuary model, positive peer culture and dyadic developmental psychotherapy. It will look at the principles, strategies, current implementation and research related to each of the three models. It will then consider each of the models in relation to Anglin’s theory of congruence, which research supports as a critical element of success for residential care services (Anglin, 2002).