Overcoming Oppressive Dysfunctional Communications in Mental Health Communities Liam Mac Gabhann & Paddy McGowan School of Nursing & Human Sciences Dublin City University
Jul 08, 2015
Overcoming Oppressive Dysfunctional Communicationsin Mental Health Communities
Liam Mac Gabhann & Paddy McGowan
School of Nursing & Human Sciences
Dublin City University
The key to less dysfunctional oppressive communications?
PowerExpertiseDiversityMultiple truthsCollective journeying and determinationUnknowing Seeing, hearing, understanding each other..
Open Dialogue
As a form of open communicationAs a therapeutic approachService DeliveryAs a process to aid organisational
developmentAs a process for community development
Open Dialogue as communication
“where it is perceived as a joint action that joins people together in a temporary mutual world experience. Participants have to be willing to engage in this dialogue or a situation needs to be created where it can ensue” (Bakhtin 1981)
Subject to subject (with,not to!)Co-creating and naming their worldDon’t have to abandon beliefs or values
Characteristics of Open Dialogue Processes
The dialogue is based on give and take as opposed to one way communication
All people concerned by the issue under investigation should have the opportunity to participate
Participants are obliged to help other participants be active in the dialogue
All participants have the same status within the dialogue arena
Experience is the point of departure for participation
At least some of the experience the participant has when entering the dialogue is seen as relevant
It must be possible for all participants to have an understanding for the topics under discussion
(Gustavsen, 2001)
An argument can be rejected only after an investigation (and not for instance, on the grounds that it arises from a source with limited legitimacy)
All arguments to enter the dialogue must be represented by the actors (participants) present
All participants are obliged to accept that other participants may have better arguments than their own
Among discussion issues can be the roles occupied by participants with no one exempt from such a discussion
The dialogue should be able to integrate a growing degree of disagreement
The dialogue should continuously generate decisions that provide a platform for joint action
Liam Mac Gabhann,, Paddy McGowanMichaela Amering, Lorna Ni Cheirin, Anne Spencer
Catherine, Martin, Jenny, Colette, Clem, Adrian, Kevin, Maeve, Damien, Lorraine, Michael
Libby, Paul, Gerry, Evelyn, Vinnie, Sue, Joan, Josephine, Eoin, Susan, Cathy, Andrea, Steven, Bernie
And all the rest of Trialogue co-participants…….
Mental Health Trialogue Network Ireland
www.trialogue.co
Mental Health Trialogue Network Ireland
Emerged partly as a consequence of our national leadership programme
Concern about people being stuck in our mental health bubble
It was about community liberationHow has it played out?
Is it About me in my community or separated from my community….?
Moving beyond the bubble of the mental health community……… into ‘the community’
Community Liberation
How has it played out?
South TipperaryDublin South CentralGalwayDonegalDublin South WestMayoWest Cork
And beyond…
Trialogue Meetings
What do I/you bring to TrialogueWhat do I/you take from Trialogue
We have to consciously make a decision to engage in Trialogue Communication
and it is not for everyone…….
Over to you…….
www.trialogue.co