Rational Authority | Dr. George DeLeon Interview (Part 3)
Tagged:
Therapeutic Community ModelExploring leadership, learning, and shared responsibility in the Therapeutic Community.
In this conversation, Dr. George DeLeon unpacks one of the core principles of the Therapeutic Community model — rational authority. He explains how staff and residents together form a living community where guidance, accountability, and education are intertwined.
Dr. DeLeon discusses:
- What “rational authority” means and why it’s central to the TC approach
- How staff facilitate change without control or coercion
- The importance of transparent, educational decision-making
- How feedback and shared responsibility strengthen community safety and growth
This episode reveals how therapeutic communities redefine leadership, not as power, but as the capacity to teach, model, and reason together.
A video is being shown
Disclaimer:
The views and insights shared in this interview reflect the personal and professional perspectives of Dr. George DeLeon. They do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Recovery Training Institute of Alberta (RTIA) or any affiliated organizations.