Writings
The Industrialisation of Care: Counselling, Psychotherapy and the impact of IAPT
The UK government’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has transformed the landscape of counselling and psychotherapy across England. Local IAPT services provide therapy to thousands of people experiencing depression and anxiety. But they also absorb millions of pounds in government funding and stand accused of relying on an economic model of treatment that […]
Access to mental health care
Summary People in the asylum system who might benefit from mental health care frequently find it very difficult to access this. Some do not seek help, perhaps because they do not expect mental health services to be helpful or because of fear, stigma, or wanting to avoid the processes of help-seeking.Those who do seek help […]
Seeking asylum and mental health
Summary The authors critique trauma and illness models of the effects of adversity, and go on to consider alternative societal and political understandings. They then review biological insights from attachment theory and affective neuroscience. An analogy with grief leads to consideration of post-traumatic growth, and adversity activated development. A review of symptoms resulting from adversity […]
Psychological Therapies for Survivors of Torture
In Chapter 2, Norma McKinnon reflects with her client, Kevin, a survivor of torture from Darfur, what made the difference for him in his therapy and his experience of processing his painful history in Sudan.