Elien Neimeijer

81 Most people strive for a meaningful life and for most participants initially this means a normal life. During their treatment participants come to realize their vulnerability and long term support need, which changes their perspective on the future. In the inter- views, participants struggle with the acceptance of their disability and support needs, and the need for perspective with regard to the possibilities and dreams for the future, such as Laura. Although the perspectives on the future differ between individuals and are related to the phase and duration of the treatment and the support they receive, all participants look for a meaningful use of time within the clinic. Like James, the participants refer to therapy, which contributes to long-term goals and, on the other hand, to activities, such as crafts, that contribute to a meaningful in- terpretation of the day. All participants indicate that it is important that you have a sense of feeling of independence, that you achieve something and that you have the idea that staying in the clinic makes sense. In their interviews, the participants sometimes refer to small and everyday successes, such as selling a homemade flag line made during day- time activities, preparing a meal for the group, a homemade rap or the certificates ob- tained for therapy. At other times they talk about moments that have a major impact on their lives in the long term, such as moving to a different stage of treatment or place of residence or contact recovery with family. “I would like to move to another place, rather today than tomorrow. What I really miss is that people don’t inform me about how we are going to proceed, what else do they expect from me? .... I have to ask questions about everything. Then I think, does that necessarily mean that I have to come to you and cry? I was recently told that I was nagging too much, and then they told me again, well, you also have to ask. Then I think: ‘What do you want? Be straight!’” (Jack). Sociotherapists should pay attention to the limitations of the person and offer the person sufficient support by offering the person a day program in which there is a good bal- ance between rest and meaningful activities and adequate verbal or physical prompting during tasks in order to gain success experiences. On the other hand, they should pay attention to the longer term perspective of people who, because of their complex prob- lems and the context in which they find themselves, often have limited opportunities to achieve a more dignified, more experience-rich existence in a meaningful context. Since the participants’ ability fluctuate during the day, sociotherapists must continuously