Elien Neimeijer

80 spend time together, participate in activities and be treated and addressed as members of their living group. However, at the same time there is a (strong) need to be seen and treated as an individual, especially when the participants discuss the structure and rules within the clinic. Although participants emphasize the need for uniformity regarding routines, rules, and clear agreements, they also stress that when routines and rules are too strict and no individual exceptions can be made, this will result in (behaviour) prob- lems. This ambiguous attitude towards rules and agreements is formulated by Laura: “I think the rules and agreements should be the same for everyone. (….) I think that rules should be made per person” As sociotherapists are responsible for maintaining the atmosphere and safety in the group, participants expect sociotherapists to take into account their need for equal treatment and clarity about rules, but at the same time they should have an eye for the individual characteristics of the person and find ways to avoid uniformity and group agreements, so that they can meet the individual needs of the participants. According to the participants, it is important to justify an individual exception to the person, the group and other professionals within the organisation. 4. Competence: Challenge me within my possibilities “ It is difficult to find a good place for me to live. I have an aggression and drug problem. ... There are only two institutions that are willing to take me (…) You have to wait very long before you can move to the next step. (...) Sometimes I went too quickly to the next stage of treatment, the step was too big (...) my future is my downfall. I am actually well at my current living group” (Charlie). “ If someone says you are a mission to fail, that may be meant as a joke, but it makes me feel like shit ... I want people to start the treatment with me so I can make it to the next step. Therapy is important, but pottering is just as important to me. “ In the future I want to live somewhere, with a dog and my daughter ... That sociotherapists come to visit me three times a week or something. (...) I prefer to be out of psychiatry, but that will probably not happen any time soon, but with an extra step in between” (Laura).