Mental Health & Professionalism

It’s only when we search for and achieve a sense of sovereign agency that we begin to heal ourselves of the ills we experience. The sense of ‘I’m the expert of me’ needs to be explored and fully embodied to heal. This can be encouraged by ‘open dialogue’ and a sense of radical transparency from health care professionals. The current model is one where certain parts of the practice are shielded, perhaps through professionalism. Professionalism is important but sometimes leads to an expert/patient dynamic. This leads to the patient feeling like someone else holds the key to the understanding of their own mind. What I’m proposing is that from the outset of the implementation of the recovery model, people are invited into the process. They see what is written about them, they act as a ‘double blind’ of understanding, they check that what is written about them is actually exactly how their mind is working. They understand more about what’s actually happening. This will create a sovereign sense of self, an unwavering belief in their own capacity to heal. The experts are saying I can do this, the experts are saying you know best. Are you willing to step into the unknown, embrace your humanity, and firmly but compassionately say I am not the expert, you are, guiding people towards their own sense of sovereignty, saying I am the steward of your expertise, I am here as guardianship of your journey.