In 1995, we launched a transformative 3-day immersive training program called the ‘Living-Learning Experience’ (LLE). Designed mostly for staff working in democratic therapeutic communities, the LLE offers participants a unique opportunity to experience “life from the other side” within a residential, transient therapeutic community. Hosted at an organic farm in Kent for many years, the program is based on the NHS's democratic therapeutic community model that had been successfully implemented in Berkshire.
Each LLE accommodates 12 to 30 participants and is supported by a staff team of 3 group facilitators, 2 supervisors, an administrative assistant, and a researcher. The 3-day program follows a structured schedule that includes community meetings, small group sessions, shared meals, communal cooking, and various practical, playful and leisure activities. In keeping with the principles of the Therapeutic Community Core Competencies Framework, all decisions are made collectively by the community, ensuring shared responsibility and minimisation of the divide between participants and staff.
A key aspect of the LLE is its balance between support and challenge, and between professionalism and playful, spontaneous interaction. This mixture fosters a sense of connection and community, encouraging deep reflection alongside moments of joy and fun.
As the LLE program gained international recognition, practitioners from around the world began participating and requested that LLEs be held in their own countries. This led to the development of the International Network of Living-Learning Experiences (INLLE), expanding the reach of the LLEs beyond the UK. INLLE has now co-produced and delivered LLEs in countries such as Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal, with a growing network of international clients. Participants who demonstrate strong relational and reflective skills can express interest in joining the INLLE staff team.
In the UK, the LLEs are now hosted by the National Centre for Reflective Practice at the Mulberry Bush Organisation Third Space (MB3) in Gloucestershire. Set in the picturesque countryside of Toddington, the venue offers extensive grounds, a yurt in a meadow, and ample on-site accommodation, providing a serene environment for reflection and learning.
Our Aims
INLLE is a collaboration of experienced mental health practitioners who provide carefully structured training aimed at helping participants develop the following skills:
Reflective practice for those creating therapeutic environments and therapeutic communities
Group facilitation skills for working in therapeutic communities
Lived experience of sociotherapy for mental health professionals
Accessible insight into complex emotional dynamics seen in teams and organisations
Enhanced use of relationships in professional encounters, applicable to any field
Intensive emotional intelligence for professionals whose work requires it
General emotional intelligence for personal or professional development
