A rural child psychiatry day treatment centre: systemic perspective

The author presents the complexities of directing a DTC (Day Treatment Center) in a rural setting. These complexities are explored from the perspective of system's theory. The various systems contained within the DTC are in dynamic equilibrium with each other as well as with various community groups. Changes in any one system have significant impact on the groups the system impinges on. As an example, the DTC had not functioned well for a period of time prior to the author's arrival. During that period the staff communicated poorly among themselves, resulting in conflicts between the teaching and non-teaching staff. When these conflicts were resolved the well-established incompatibilities and stresses within the system of the non-teaching staff surfaced. In the process of this conflict resolution the DTC was reorganized. New groups were established to access children at primary and secondary levels of medical prevention. Rapport with other systems in the community improved. Consequently, with better communication between groups of staff and with the community, the treatment of the children could be more effective.