Arbours Association: archives

This collection is uncatalogued. The following is an interim description which may be altered when detailed cataloguing takes place in future.

Papers of the Arbours Association Ltd. Including but not limited to, administrative records, resident and staff records, publications, financial records, correspondence, minutes, publicity material, newsletters. Records include:

Core work - primarily relating to the provision of therapy and non-clinical accommodation for people in a mental health crisis. Fundraising and publicity, publications and events

Governance - primarily relating to the running of the organisation

Subsidiary Associations - associations that were financially supported by Arbours Association Ltd as part of their professional and legal responsibilities. Also includes one digital file, "Website Feb 2021", recording Arbours Association ceasing to operate therapeutic communities.

1970s-2000s

Uncatalogued: 47 boxes; 1 digital item

The Arbours Association was established in the early 1970s by Dr Joseph Berke and Dr Morton (Morty) Schatzman, heavily influenced by the pioneering work of R. D. Laing and their work together in the Kingsley Hall community.

By established the Arbours Crisis Centre as a therapeutic community in Muswell Hill, Berke and Schatzman aimed to provide a non-institutional alternative to psychiatric treatment for individuals with emotional, psychological and social difficulties. The name Arbours draws on the Hebrew text 'and he shall build arbours over them'. The residential home accommodated up to eight residents aiming for an even balance of men and women within the community. The Crisis Centre provided a temporary home for people at crisis point, often experiencing psychosis, depression, mania, and substance addiction. Many were referred from hospital secure units. The unique aspect of the Arbours approach to residential therapy was to have therapists permanently living alongside the residents in a professional capacity, with no locked doors. Additionally, Arbours offered therapy and accommodation to families and partners, so that the person in crisis could maintain a relationship with them during their residency. Residents and guests were required to attend group meetings, and encouraged to take part in art therapy, psychotherapy and social events. Everyone would undertake everyday activities in the house and local community, with a focus on shared responsibility and autonomy.

Soon after, the Association added several more residential therapeutic communities around London, and provided psychotherapy services and training programmes from their head office in Hornsey, North London. Until 2020, the Arbours Association operated three residential therapeutic communities, offering an alternative to inpatient psychiatric treatment, particularly for people in crisis. The Arbours Association now operates as an organisation providing psychotherapy services, though it no longer runs therapeutic communities or a psychotherapy training programme. [Correct as of 2026]

Wellcome Collection also holds the archives of Dr Joseph Berke (ref: PP/BER).

Acquired by Wellcome in March 2026 prior to the closure of the Mulberry Bush Third Space (MB3) archive service. This collection was originally acquired by the Planned Environment Therapy Trust Archive and Study Centre between 1996 and 2011, with most accessions transferred by Dr Joseph Berke. Ownership transferred by the Planned Environment Therapy Trust (PETT) to the Mulberry Bush Organisation at the end of December 2018, at which point it joined the Mulberry Bush Third Space (MB3) archive service.

Routine financial papers (cheque books, petty cash, invoicing, bills) were appraised from the collection under the custody of MB3 archives prior to acquisition by Wellcome Collection. A sample of these records has been retained.

None expected.

This collection is currently uncatalogued and cannot be ordered online. Due to ongoing work to improve our collections management systems we are unable to facilitate access to uncatalogued material until 2027.