Based on his experiences of helping to fight cuts and closures in Suffolk, Michael Mandelstam delivers a damning verdict on the mismanagement of the NHS at national, regional and local level. He charts the widespread cutbacks and closures, both rural and urban, to clinics, A&E services, beds, wards and scores of community hospitals. He outlines how humane care, particularly for older people, is compromised by the ruthless determination of NHS management to increase patient throughput and hit government-set targets. The author highlights how the chaotic change to the NHS is being driven by concealed agendas – including privatisation of the NHS, obsessive interference from central government as well as selective use, if not abandonment, of evidence-based practice. Seriously flawed and damaging decisions are the result, affecting the population at large as well as those most vulnerable – older people with chronic and complex needs, people with physical or learning disabilities and people with mental health problems. Above all, he exposes the scandalous lack of transparency and accountability behind changes that threaten to destroy the NHS.
Bradford Dementia Group Good Practice Guides There are always difficult day to day decisions to be faced when caring for a person with dementia – from knowing how to deal with wandering to end of life decisions. Many of these decisions are underpinned by value judgments about right and wrong and reflect a particular view of dementia. This book considers these ethical decisions in the context of relationships, treatment, safety and quality of life, offering practical guidance and advice. It draws on the experiences of family carers as well as on existing research and emphasizes the importance of empathy and the need to acknowledge different perspectives in order to reach the best decision for the person with dementia. In particular the authors discuss the way that decision makers are themselves changed by the decisions they make, and the impact of this on the decision-making process. This book should be read by all those who work caring for people with dementia.
Art Therapy and Social Action is an exciting exploration of how professionals can incorporate the techniques and approaches of art therapy in their work to address social problems. Examining the expanding role of art practitioner as social activist, leading art therapists and other professionals show how creative methods can be used effectively to resolve conflicts, manage aggression, heal trauma and build communities. The contributors provide examples of innovative programs on a range of topics, including those designed to address gun crime, homelessness, racism and experiences of terrorism, among others. This timely book provides new techniques and successful models for art therapists, counselors and mental health practitioners working directly with the challenges of modern society.
The use of creative writing as a route to personal development is a powerful therapeutic tool – a fact that is recognized in the growing numbers of workshops and writing groups within professional contexts, including clinical, health and criminal justice settings. Writing Works is a guide for writers or therapists working with groups or individuals and is full of practical advice on everything from the equipment needed to run a session to ideas for themes, all backed up by the theory that underpins the methods explained. Experienced practitioners in the field contribute detailed illuminating accounts of organizing writing workshops for a wide range of different clients, together with examples of their outcomes. This book will be an invaluable start-up reference for arts therapists and professionals working across the health, social care and caring professions, and one that will be referred to again and again.
What is truly distinctive about this book is that Oldfield introduces her doctoral research, in which she created the Music Therapy Diagnostic Assessment (MTDA) in comparison to one of the most internationally recognized standardized diagnostic tool.' – Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). 'I believe that the book will be useful for music therapy students, and novice music therapist working in child and family psychiatry and related fields.' – Nordic Journal of Music Therapy 'In her indomitable, accessible and straightforward style, Amelia Oldfield continues to champion the use of music therapy with families in her most recent publication. The book is in many ways a step-by-step music therapy manual, informing us of music therapy methods and innovations and provoking new thoughtfulness for work within the child mental health setting.' – Journal of Family Therapy 'This book could be an invaluable resource for readers who are looking for evidence that music therapy can have a very positive effect on certain disorders and family dynamics. I could imagine it would bring great hope for those whose children find communication very difficult, or where families are struggling to relate emotionally. The book [also] has a lot of clinical research data, which would be extremely useful for students or clinicians needing to validate this kind of work.' – ACCord Magazine 'This practical book outlines and explains the rationale for using music therapy in child and family psychiatry. Amelia Oldfield reflects on current research methodology and describes characteristics of her own approach to therapy sessions, including how to start and end the session, how to motivate children and establish a positive musical dialogue with them, and how to include parents in the session. She also uses video analysis techniques to assess and advance the role of the therapist. Individual chapters focus on the results of the author's research investigations with specific groups such as mothers and young children, groups of adults with profound difficulties, children with autistic spectrum disorder or severe physical and mental difficulties, as well as children without clear diagnosis. Case studies and vignettes supplement these examples. The author also considers the whole process from the initial referral for therapy and using psychiatric music therapy for diagnostic assessment to how to end treatment. This book is accessible to music therapists, psychiatrists, nurses and occupational therapists working with children and families, as well as music therapy trainers, their students and academics interested in music therapy.' – British Society for Music Therapy 'Those who are specifically interested in music therapy as applied to children and families will find no better mentor than Oldfield.' – Mental Health Care Practice 'Well, this book was a pleasant surprise! I found it a remarkably uplifting read. Amelia Oldfield describes in detail how she has managed to interact through music with children (and adults) with a wide range of significant difficulties, intellectual, emotional and physical. Her music therapy is intended to help with diagnosis but she also involved parents and carers in her sessions in a way which helps them to come to terms with and deal more comfortably with their charges.' – Adoption.net This practical book outlines and explains the rationale for using music therapy in child and family psychiatry. Amelia Oldfield reflects on current research methodology and describes characteristics of her own approach to therapy sessions, including how to start and end the session, how to motivate children and establish a positive musical dialogue with them, and how to include parents in the session. She also uses video analysis techniques to assess and advance the role of the therapist. Individual chapters focus on the results of the author's research investigations with specific groups such as mothers and young children, groups of adults with profound difficulties, children with autistic spectrum disorder or severe physical and mental difficulties, as well as children without clear diagnosis. Case studies and vignettes supplement these examples. The author also considers the whole process from the initial referral for therapy and using psychiatric music therapy for diagnostic assessment to how to end treatment. This book is accessible to music therapists, psychiatrists, nurses and occupational therapists working with children and families, as well as music therapy trainers, their students and academics interested in music therapy.
Drawing from Within is an introductory guide for those wanting to explore the use of art with clients with eating disorders. Art therapy is a particularly effective therapeutic intervention for this group, as it allows them to express uncomfortable thoughts and feelings through artistic media rather than having to explain them verbally. Lisa D. Hinz outlines the areas around which the therapist can design effective treatment programmes, covering family influences, body image, self-acceptance, problem solving and spirituality. Each area is discussed in a separate chapter and is accompanied by suggestions for exercises, with advice on materials to use and how to implement them. Case examples show how a therapy programme can be tailored to the individual client and photographs of client artwork illustrate the text throughout. Practical and accessible to practitioners at all levels of experience, this book gives new hope to therapists and other mental health professionals who want to explore the potential of using art with clients with eating disorders.
This accessible, interactive resource book encourages front-line staff working with dementia sufferers in nursing and residential settings to examine their working practice and modify it to where appropriate to meet best practice guidelines. Packed with photocopiable training exercises, discussion points and questions to prompt care workers to reflect on their style of work, this practical training manual also provides a framework for care work in line with statutory requirements and national training standards. It can be used as a self-training guide by carers, who can work through it at their own pace or under the supervision of a colleague, or by trainers running structured courses on good practice in dementia care. It is also suitable for use as a quick reference in daily practice. This comprehensive resource will provide useful guidance for all staff working face-to-face with people with dementia, whether in nursing, day-care or residential settings.
This is a well-written and useful book, particularly for those healthcare professionals who, with a little more confidence, and perhaps some Chaplaincy support, are well able to support their patients on their spiritual journeys. It would be an excellent tool for learning sessions between Chaplaincy and nursing staff, along with other relevant professional groups.' – Signpost 'This book considers why the spiritual needs of individuals are important. In an attempt to explain, the book uses case studies, which show the relationship of theory to practice. It is an interactive book encouraging reflection to explore the meaning of spirituality to patients and health care professionals. The exercises also attempt to explain the importance of a team approach to spiritual assessment as part of a holistic assessment. The book gives clear explanations of spirituality in the context of Holism and the different sections give plenty of food for thought. There are excellent references and suggestions for further reading. It is not a book for light reading but would be invaluable when encountering difficulties with a spiritual assessment or situation.' – Journal of Community Nursing Caring for the spiritual needs of patients is a highly significant yet often neglected and misunderstood aspect of health care. This results, in part, from a general lack of guidance and instruction given to healthcare professionals on the subject. This new edition of an established introductory guide to spirituality and health care practice draws extensively on case studies illustrating the application of theory to practice. It encourages the exploration, through reflective activities, of what spirituality means, both to patients and to the healthcare professionals caring for them. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to spiritual care for heath care professionals in all areas of practice.
In Interactive Music Therapy – A Positive Approach, Amelia Oldfield explains how her approach to music therapy sessions establishes a constructive musical dialogue with children that emphasises positive experiences – these establish trust and allow feelings to be expressed through music. Describing the general benefits of this approach, the author also details its application for specific clinical groups including children with autistic spectrum disorders, relationship difficulties or physical disabilities. Individual chapters focus specifically on child development issues and in child and brief case studies throughout the text illustrate points of particular importance. This practical book will be of use to other clinicians and teachers working with children with a variety of needs, including children on the autism spectrum and children with learning disabilities. It is also of use to music therapy trainers, their students and academics whose interests include music therapy.
`The Madness of our Lives is a worthy contribution to the literature on first person accounts of mental distress and illness. Its strength is in the range of experiences it canvasses, and in the freedom given to interviewees to tell their own stories. This is a highly readable and informative book.' – Metapsychology Online `The Madness of our Lives consists largely of transcribed interviews with people who have undergone «madness» and to a greater or lesser extent achieved «recovery». It usefully opens both of these terms up to scrutiny. The book is harrowing but hopeful. It is also frequently moving and through-provoking…In giving advice to people who have experienced madness; the book performs, firstly, a powerful political/ethical gesture. Those interviewed by Penny Gray recount painful experiences of being misunderstood, derided, bullied, abused – in their personal and professional lives and, not least, during treatment; there are numerous accounts here of unsympathetic or negligent GPs and mental health practitioners. This is shocking and compelling material, which needs to be aired.' –Journal of Mental Health, April 2007 `This book comprises a collection of eleven first hand accounts of breakdown and recovery. It is both a fascinating and insightful read with an equal emphasis on recovery and breakdown. The book is aimed at a wide audience of those who have experienced a breakdown themselves and those who care for someone who has experienced breakdown including those in the mental health sector. It certainly would be of interest to all of these groups and the reader would take away a better understanding of the diversity of causes, diversity of experiences and diversity of means of recovery. Importantly, the book is an opportunity to give voice to those who have experienced breakdown and recovery.' –The Journal of Critical Psychology, Vol.7, Spring 2007 `This is a superb book documenting the 1st hand accounts of people who have experienced mental health issues. It not only is fascinating from an anthropological perspective but also in respect of their service experiences, each of which varies…This book should be compulsory curriculum reading for anyone studying or working in this sector. The most valuable lesson that it provides is that one mental health service user's experience is not necessarily another's and therefore services must be person-centred, creating services for people, and avoiding the urge to make the people fit the services. The book would also be of interest to anyone interested in narratives following poor health or disability.' –The Encephalitis Society `Since counselling is fundamentally about listening to clients, this book represents a refreshing return to first principles…We all need to be reminded to listen well and to wear our theory lightly. If we need a reminder that people are active self-healers and the best we may be able to do is to accompany them (and not get in the way), we could take this book as essential reading.' –Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal What precipitates mental breakdown? How do people experience such extremes – and how do they see others' interpretations and interventions? Most important, how do people recover from these episodes and get their lives back? These are some of the questions addressed in this anthology of first-hand accounts of mental breakdown and recovery. Eleven very different stories together shed light on what triggers mental breakdown, what it is like to be `mad', whether treatment helps and how people reclaim themselves and their lives. Based on tape-recorded interviews with people who have been through a mental breakdown and come out the other side of it, The Madness of Our Lives breaks the silence around mental distress and offers hope and optimism to mental health service users and their carers.