Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Steve Thorp's avatar

Julia, I remember talking with you about Judith Rich Harris's work back in the day. I think what I eventually drew from her challenges to the prevailing psychodynamic, psychiatric models was that all models are just coat hangers to hang our cultural coats on... (sorry for the mixed metaphors!!). We can learn from the seeds that germinate and grow, but also from those that don't. It seems to me that PTMF can be a more nuanced alternative to the straight line 'trauma' causes everything, or parents fuck up their kids (Rich Harris's nurture assumption), as well as a counter to the lazy biochemical brain balance assumption. Like you say, it's fine to throw seeds at the old system, but is that also a recognition that there are things of value to be retained? Having said all that, it's always good to keep an eye on where the power really is... and where it might be shifting to. Great piece as always...

Expand full comment
Dissenter's avatar

Hi Julia. Thanks for your interest in the PTMF. As one of the lead authors, I would like to clarify that it isn't about MH services, and any use of it 'as a mandatory part of treatment' or to endorse or support professional power (which, of course, the authors cannot prevent) would be a serious travesty of its intentions. It is a set of PRINCIPLES about our understanding of the experiences described as 'mental health problems' - and as such, raises exactly the issues you have mentioned. Do we need professionals, or indeed a MH system, at all? Many of those who have taken up the PTMF are survivors and peer groups who decided to use it without any input from professionals at all - which is exactly as we had hoped. Some are using it within services - and if it can help to reduce some of the damaging impact of services, then we welcome that - but of course it is true that there is a fundamental incompatibility between services and PTMF principles. As you say, 'Why can't we all be human together?' Why indeed? That is the core message of the PTMF - 'We are all story tellers and meaning-makers.'

Expand full comment
4 more comments...

No posts