Lives Interrupted: Psychiatric Narratives of Struggle and Resilience

(Hardback)

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Lives Interrupted: Psychiatric Narratives of Struggle and Resilience provides insight into the everyday experiences of individuals struggling with severe psychic distress during a six-month immersion program at the Fountain House headquarters, a New York-based organization that works to address the effects of serious mental illness. These narratives add complexity and objectivity to the expanding discussion of psychiatric treatment plans. Contributors to this collection argue that narratives are vital to treatment and should not be treated as secondary options to standard diagnosis and treatment practices that rely heavily on pharmaceuticals and often result in short-term revolving-door interventions for complex forms of human suffering.

Reviews

We thank Michael and his associates for treating the members and staff with respect and dignity. We hope in explicating here the underpinnings of our unique form of social practice, the publication of this book will encourage interest and discussion in the greater application of the working community in achieving our common vision that people with serious mental illness can live and thrive in our communities. -- Kenneth Dudek, President, Fountain House Inc.
It is moving to read a work emphasizing the emotional contact of work with psychosis. Whatever the importance of medical intervention, human need for feeling links cannot be underestimated. Lives Interrupted provides a warm heart, caring mind, and imaginative reflection touching pain and wounds filled with longing and aching creativity. The editors and contributors bring out atmospheric conditions that further potential healing and growth. It emphasizes psycho-social elements that touch heart and mind and a felt sense of what may be possible. -- Michael Eigen, author of The Psychotic Core, The Sensitive Self, and The Challenge of Being Human

Author Bio

Michael OLoughlin is professor in the College of Education and Health Sciences and the Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University. Secil Arac-Orhun, PhD, is licensed clinical psychologist. Montana Queler, PhD, is psychologist and licensed mental health counselor.