COMMUNITY THERAPY IN ROCINHA

Introduction and Objective: The prevalence of people with common mental disorders at the primary attention units in the city of Rio de Janeiro is 51.9% (Gonçalves et al, 2014). Faced with such a common problem with severe consequences both at the individual and collective levels, a new therapeutic intervention has been widely applied throughout Brazil, it is the Integrative Community Therapy created by Adalberto Barreto. It is a space for sharing experiences, where each one becomes his own self-therapist, from listening, dialogues and reflection. Guided by theoretical axes such as the systemic thinking, communication theory, cultural anthropology, Paulo Freire’s pedagogy and resilience, aiming the empowerment, the construction of community network and the relation between the popular and scientific knowledge. Method: In Rocinha, professionals of the Strategy for Family Heath and the Matrix Support Team do the community therapy weekly at the three Family Health Units. It has six stages of development: reception, choice of subject, context, questioning, closing and evaluation. Results and Conclusions: Since these open groups have a weekly frequency it is easier to get access to the treatment, at the own group and through psychotropic medication (when recommended) allowing a frequent monitoring of its effects, once the therapy group is also lead by a Psychiatrist or a Family Health Doctor. Individual clinical consultations or joint consultations with mental health professionals are also scheduled. The strengthening of the community bonds and the capacity to face everyday problems are results that stimulate the health professionals to continue this work.