Italian and British therapeutic communities: common threads from the 1960s to the 2010s

Purpose This study aims to describe Italian and UK therapeutic community developments during 1960–2021. Design/methodology/approach Historical review and personal experience. Findings After significant divergence in the nature of “therapeutic communities”, mostly based on the different sociopolitical contexts in the two countries, areas of formal rapprochement have been emerging in the past 20 years. Research limitations/implications The details of how therapeutic communities developed in Italy, particularly in the wake of Law 180, deserves investigation and comparison to the UK and other countries. Practical implications The recent collaborative work in quality, training and research could support the future use of therapeutic communities and enabling environments. Social implications The underlying principle of “relational practice”, which underlies the therapeutic community approach, could have wider implication in public services beyond mental health. Originality/value Much has been written about the progressive intentions of Italian mental health with Law 180, but not with a specific focus on therapeutic communities – which were an important initial impetus for Basaglia and his equipé.