Relational Mental Health

This volume contains current evidence-based diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for people with mental disorders. Students and professionals alike will find the mental health field addressed as a whole in a coherent and understandable way. Readers are offered a unified presentation of psychological and sociological approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

In relational theory, the self is seen as fundamentally constituted in terms of its relations to others: it not only lives in relationship with and to others, but also owes its very existence to such relationships. Being Relational explores core moral and metaphysical concepts through a relational-theory lens and analyzes how such considerations might apply to more practical areas of concern in health law and policy. Innovative and self-reflexive, this groundbreaking collection will appeal to a broad range of thinkers, especially those who seek to understand the complex ways in which power is created and sustained relationally.

This interdisciplinary edited volume examines the complexities of relational life in the context of psychological distress and recovery. It is well documented that supportive, close relationships are central to wellbeing. This volume explores how connectedness is shaped by mental health settings, interventions and mental health experiences - and vice versa. In doing so, this work provides important insights for adult mental health care, where systems and settings can often struggle to take account of the relational context of distress and recovery. This is the first book to address the emerging shift towards a relational account of distress and recovery through a focus on people's experiences. Chapters explore community and statutory service settings, privileging the voices of those experiencing distress, their loved ones and the professionals who work with them. It also extends recent interest in the role of loneliness and social isolation in mental health, to consider themes such as belonging, connection, care and intimacy. It will appeal to mental health practitioners as well as academics in the fields of psychology, sociology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, social policy and social work.

"This book provides an overview of the basic principles in relational therapy, which, in combination with the latest research about the significance of the therapeutic relationship, makes it possible to present practical therapeutic tools and techniques to help the therapist make optimal use of the interaction between patient and therapist. It presents models and concepts in relational psychotherapy that may contribute to the patient's development of relational and emotional competence, and to more authentic and meaningful ways of living with oneself and others. The book specially emphasizes the significance of the mutually constructed emotional interplay as the material for key experiences in the development of the patient - and therapist. The focus is on the usefulness of relational principles and research findings in psychotherapies of shorter duration, in primary care, psychiatric clinics, and private practice. Rich in clinical examples, Principles and Practice of Relational Psychotherapy is an extremely useful resource for psychotherapists and clinical psychologists in training and practice"--

Jordan explores the history, theory, and practice of relationship centered, culturally oriented psychotherapy. This new edition highlights new research on the effectiveness of RCT in a variety of real-world situations such as developing team-building exercises in workplaces, and providing a theoretical frame for an E.U.-sponsored conference on human trafficking.

Relational competence—the set of traits that allow people to interact with each other effectively—enjoys a long history of being recorded, studied, and analyzed. Accordingly, Relational Competence Theory (RCT) complements theories that treat individuals’ personality and functioning individually by placing the individual into full family and social context. The ambitious volume Relational Competence Theory: Research and Mental Health Applications opens out the RCT literature with emphasis on its applicability to interventions, and updates the state of research on RCT, examining what is robust and verifiable both in the lab and the clinic. The authors begin with the conceptual and empirical bases for the theory, and sixteen models demonstrate the range of RCT concerns and their clinical relevance, including: - Socialization settings for relational competence. - The ability to control and regulate the self. - Relationship styles. - Intimacy and negotiation. - The use of practice exercises in prevention and treatment of pathology. - Appendices featuring the Relational Answers Questionnaire and other helpful tools. Relational Competence Theory both challenges and confirms much of what we know about the range of human relationships, and is important reading for researchers, scholars, and students in personality and social psychology, psychotherapy, and couple and family counseling.

The new edition of Relational Psychotherapy offers a theory that’s immediately applicable to everyday practice, from opening sessions through intensive engagement to termination. In clear, engaging prose, the new edition makes explicit the ethical framework implied in the first edition, addresses the major concepts basic to relational practice, and elucidates the lessons learned since the first edition's publication. It’s the ideal guide for beginning practitioners but will also be useful to experienced practitioners and to clients interested in the therapy process.