Wilbert Gesler (1992) used the term “therapeutic landscape” in 1992 to explore why certain places or
situations were perceived to be therapeutic. He drew on extensive literature from the social sciences
and philosophy and devised a three-factor conceptual framework that considered physical, social and
symbolic domains. Gesler emphasised that the concept was an analytic framework rather than an ideal
type, and that it could be applied in practice to investigate places where healing took place.
Subsequently, it has been widely used in studies of asylums and mental health care.
In the fi fi rst part of my presentation, I will critically analyse the concept and provide examples of its use,
drawn from my study of the former Beechworth asylum. I will then consider aspects of contemporary
mental health care, asking whether deinstitutionalisation led to the loss of the therapeutic landscape
and consequent shortcomings in care. I take a broad view of “therapeutic”, extending from patients to
include their families, asylum staff and the wider community.