A therapeutic flat is a shared home, supervised by professionals, where people who have already completed a large part of their addiction treatment live while they prepare to regain an independent life. It is an intermediate step between the treatment centre and independent living: there is more freedom than in a therapeutic community, but also support and a set of rules that provide a sense of security.
What is a therapeutic flat?
It is also known as a reintegration flat or urban residence. Unlike a therapeutic community, which is usually in a secluded setting and follows a tightly structured timetable, the flat is in the city and runs on an open basis: the people who live there go out to work, study, deal with errands or see their family, and come back home like any other neighbour.
Living together is part of the treatment. Sharing chores, agreeing on rules, working through friction and supporting one another at difficult moments builds skills that substance use had pushed aside.
Who are therapeutic flats for?
They are usually recommended for people who:
- Have completed residential treatment and need a transition before living on their own.
- Have not used for some time, but whose previous environment is risky or who have no stable home to return to.
- Need support to rebuild their work, financial or family situation.
- Want to consolidate what they have learnt in a real-life setting, with professional supervision close at hand.
What living in a therapeutic flat is like
Each service has its own rules, but in general life in the flat combines independence and commitment:
- Staying abstinent and respecting the house agreements.
- Sharing household chores and organising shopping, meals and schedules.
- Having personal goals, such as looking for work, going back to studying or rebuilding relationships with family, and reviewing them with the team.
- Taking part in the group and individual sessions included in the programme.
Social reintegration: the move to independence
Social reintegration is not a single moment but a process: getting back a job or a source of income, managing money, rebuilding relationships, finding substance-free leisure and, later on, a home of one’s own. The therapeutic flat makes it possible to take these steps gradually, with a support network that helps get back on course if something goes wrong.
Leaving the flat is also planned. Once the person has gained stability, they work out with the team how and when to move on to independent living and what follow-up to keep afterwards, for example outpatient treatment.
FSC’s urban therapeutic flats in Barcelona
Fundación Salud y Comunidad (FSC) has two urban residences in Barcelona for people who have been discharged from its therapeutic centres. The first opened in 1998 and the second in October 2007, in response to ever-growing demand. Being right in the city, they make it possible to take full advantage of everything it offers, in terms of both care services and social life.
Admission requirement: having completed treatment in a therapeutic community and been given a therapeutic discharge, or being referred from another centre with at least 4-6 months of abstinence.
What the residences offer:
- Goals that are planned and reviewed flexibly, according to each person’s needs and pace.
- Direct professional support on the path towards independence and social participation.
- Individual psychological and educational guidance.
- Group sessions on social skills, relapse prevention, finding work and leisure time.
- Support for families by phone, in scheduled sessions and in family groups every two months. If you are a family member, you can also turn to the family support programme.
The aim is for each person to regain their place in social, working and economic life, and to reorganise their personal and family situation too. You can see FSC’s other residential and day services under treatment centres.
When to ask for help
If you are finishing treatment and are worried about leaving, or if you are a family member and are unsure how to support someone through this stage, it is worth talking about it in advance. Leaving a centre is a delicate moment, and planning it helps prevent relapse. If you have not yet started any treatment, first find out how addiction is treated.
At the free first appointment in Barcelona, we will advise you on the FSC services that suit you. Call +34 93 424 04 00.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a therapeutic flat and a therapeutic community?
A therapeutic community is a more intensive residential service, with a highly structured daily programme and often far from the person’s usual surroundings. A therapeutic flat is in the city, runs on an open basis and focuses on independence and reintegration, usually after that treatment.
What are the requirements for moving into an FSC therapeutic flat?
Having completed treatment in a therapeutic community and been given a therapeutic discharge, or being referred from another centre with at least 4-6 months of abstinence.
Can you work while living in the flat?
Yes. It runs on an open basis and is designed precisely to support a return to work and integration into social and economic life; the programme includes group work on finding employment. The details of each case are agreed with the team.
How long do people live in a therapeutic flat?
There is no set period. Goals are planned and reviewed flexibly, according to each person’s needs and pace.
Is the family involved?
Yes. The programme includes support for families by phone, in scheduled sessions and in family groups that meet every two months.