Integrated Community Therapy
Integrative Community Therapy (ICT) is a method of supporting individual and community health through group conversation. Inspired by Terapia Comunitária Integrativa, which is globally recognized as a first-line of defense in mental health support, ICT uses guided conversation between members of a community to create a safe space for participants to share life experiences and wisdom. Each person becomes their own therapist by listening to the life stories that are told, sharing in the responsibility of seeking solutions, and overcoming daily challenges in a warm, welcoming environment. This accessible, effective method does not rely on referrals, doctors, insurance, or wait lists, and offers immediate, no-cost access to any person needing mental health support.
The Global Impact
36
Countries in which ICT and TCI are used as a first line of defense for mental health grievances
12,000
Number of ICT and TCI facilitators worldwide, leading the conversation in rounds everyday
2 Million
Individuals who have had their lives impacted by the power of Terapia Comunitária Integrativa
5 Steps of Integrated Community Therapy
Welcome
We'll discuss the rules of the session, express our gratitude, and engage in a warm-up to bring positive, welcoming energy to the group.
Identify
Participants will share "the pebble in their shoe", or what grievances they are experiencing. The group then selects one of the topics or personal challenges to explore further.
Explore
The person who suggested the chosen topic gives context to their situation or struggle, then the topic is opened up for group members to ask clarifying questions.
Share
The group is invited to discuss the topic. Using “I” statements, the group provides guidance by sharing their own narrative and experience.
Closure
The facilitator poses a wrap up of the group's sharing. The group is encouraged to thank others directly for their thoughts, as well as sharing the sense of being heard, gratitude for learning from others that share our experiences and being lifted in community support and belonging.
Become a Facilitator For Your Community or Organization
The U.S. is experiencing a mental health emergency due to a lack of access to providers, insurance, and out of pocket costs. There is hope with a model of peer-led and community-based support.
Visible Hands Collaborative is introducing a powerful tool for communities to combat the mental health emergency, and it's being launched in the U.S. for the first time ever. ICT mobilizes the resources of a community to take care of themselves and others.
Community can heal.
Training is currently underwritten by foundation support and provides thorough online learning, coaching, peer support and ongoing educational development.
"It's been kind of a slow burn to get to a place where I can confidently say I’ve started to embody ICT – not just in sessions, but in my personal relationships and orientation towards what we’re doing here on this big rock called Earth. I can say that at a cellular level, I’ve become a better version of myself through this process."
Amber S., ICT Facilitator
Articles on ICT
