Social Therapy

Social Therpay is an integrated approach to care, education, guidance and life-sharing with adults with learning disabilities and other special needs. This work began in Germany in the early 1920s inspired by the spiritual science of Rudolf Steiner (anthroposophy). A number of initiatives had been developed in Britain by the 1950s, and there are now more than six hundred centres in over fourty countries worldwide.

The concept Social Therapy encompasses a broad spectrum of possibilities for people with any form of disability; living in the community, shared accomodation, supported accomodation, adult education programs etc. The aim is always to enable the individual to experience a fulfilled life in a social environment with others, to develop personally, and to be able to make a meaningful contribution to his/her community and to society as a whole.

Social Therapy has the task of establishing a framework of exsistence that allows the individual to develop socially, in their work, and in their own spiritual and cultural life. In addition it provides a programme of therapies and individual care.

"We must create the conditions that will allow the person with disability to structure their own work and living environment, and not assume at the outset that we know better what his needs are." (Karl König)

The field of anthroposophical social therapy is part of the wider sphere of the work of the Medical section of the School of Spiritual Science in Dornach, Switzerland, represented through the International Council for Curative Education and Social Therapy and the Anthroposophical Curative Education and Social Therapy Association in Britain.