The Connection between the Organizational Culture and Treatment Approach of a Therapeutic Community: A Qualitative Study of Spring Lake Ranch

Abstract

This paper is a qualitative study of the organizational culture of Spring Lake Ranch, a residential therapeutic community for the treatment of mental illness and substance abuse problems. Schein's model of organizational culture is used to uncover the underlying assumptions at work in the organization and explain the ways in which the organization's culture is connected to its treatment approach. While the basic concepts of organization theory and organizational culture apply to the study of all organizations and groups, most research on organizational culture has focused on for-profit businesses. This study takes a different approach, analyzing the culture of a therapeutic community. By applying existing constructs to the analysis of a unique non-profit organization, this study aims to bring new light to previous understandings of organizational culture.