This book provides a much-needed account of informal community-based approaches to working with mental distress. It starts from the premise that contemporary mainstream psychiatry and psychology struggle to capture how distress results from complex embodied arrays of social experiences that are embedded within specific historical, cultural, political and economic settings. The authors challenge mainstream understandings of mental health that position a naive public in need of mental health literacy. Instead it is clear that a considerable amount of invaluable mental distress work is undertaken in spaces in our communities that are not understood as mental health treatments. This book represents one of the first attempts to position these kinds of spaces at the center of how we understand and address problems of mental distress and suffering. The chapters draw on case studies from the UK and abroad to point toward an exciting new paradigm based on informal community and socially oriented approaches to mental health. Written in an unusually accessible and engaging style, this book will appeal to social science students, academics, practitioners and policy makers interested in community and social approaches to mental health.

This book explores the complex identities and connection between clients and prostitutes living in Spain and life beyond prostitution. It reflects on the relationship between the anthropologist and that of his/her subjects and informants.

Whilst much has been written about the identification of resilience in children and their families, comparatively little has been written about what practitioners can do to support those children and families who need the most pressing help.

Resilient Therapy explores a new therapeutic methodology designed to help children and young people find ways to keep positive when living amidst persistent disadvantage. Using detailed case material from a range of contexts, the authors illustrate how resilient mechanisms work in complex situations, and how resilient therapy works in real-life situations. In addition to work with families, helping welfare organisations achieve greater resilience is also tackled.

This book will be essential reading for practitioners working with children, adolescents and their families who wish to help their clients cope with adversity and promote resilience.

Whilst much has been written about the identification of resilience in children and their families, comparatively little has been written about what practitioners can do to support those children and families who need the most pressing help.

Resilient Therapy explores a new therapeutic methodology designed to help children and young people find ways to keep positive when living amidst persistent disadvantage. Using detailed case material from a range of contexts, the authors illustrate how resilient mechanisms work in complex situations, and how resilient therapy works in real-life situations. In addition to work with families, helping welfare organisations achieve greater resilience is also tackled.

This book will be essential reading for practitioners working with children, adolescents and their families who wish to help their clients cope with adversity and promote resilience.

Offering a critical examination of the nature of co-produced research, this important new book draws on materials and case studies from the ESRC funded project `Imagine - connecting communities through research'. Outlining a community development approach to co-production, which privileges community agency, the editors link with wider debates about the role of universities within communities and discuss what co-production between community groups and academics can achieve.

This book provides a much-needed account of informal community-based approaches to working with mental distress. It starts from the premise that contemporary mainstream psychiatry and psychology struggle to capture how distress results from complex embodied arrays of social experiences that are embedded within specific historical, cultural, political and economic settings. The authors challenge mainstream understandings of mental health that position a naive public in need of mental health literacy. Instead it is clear that a considerable amount of invaluable mental distress work is undertaken in spaces in our communities that are not understood as mental health treatments. This book represents one of the first attempts to position these kinds of spaces at the center of how we understand and address problems of mental distress and suffering. The chapters draw on case studies from the UK and abroad to point toward an exciting new paradigm based on informal community and socially oriented approaches to mental health. Written in an unusually accessible and engaging style, this book will appeal to social science students, academics, practitioners and policy makers interested in community and social approaches to mental health.

Offering a critical examination of the nature of co-produced research, this important new book draws on materials and case studies from the ESRC funded project `Imagine - connecting communities through research'. Outlining a community development approach to co-production, which privileges community agency, the editors link with wider debates about the role of universities within communities and discuss what co-production between community groups and academics can achieve.

Adoption is currently taking centre stage in family policy in the UK and USA, with new legislation that places emphasis on providing and maintaining permanent family homes for children separated from their families of origin. This book explores the challenges of adoption and how best to support families coping with these demands. Angie Hart and Barry Luckock draw together adoptive parents' experiences, professional practice and empirical research to provide an integrative account of adoption support services. Using three fictional families, they illustrate issues such as the adoption of older children, single, lesbian and gay adoptive parenting and the importance of openness in adoptive relationships. The authors bring sociological and anthropological perspectives to bear on current developmental psychology models of trauma and attachment and examine the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions. Developing Adoption Support and Therapy will make current research and legislation on adoption support accessible to therapists, parents, social work practitioners and managers alike.

Bringing up a special child can leave parents feeling deskilled, disarmed, and worn down. A resilient child has the ability to cope with challenging situations, and the capacity to bounce back from trauma and gain long-term strength from these life experiences. Resilient Therapy (TM) is an innovative way of strengthening children with complex needs. This is a tried-and-tested handbook for parents to read from cover to cover, or dip in and out of as needed. Accessible and fun, Helping Children with Complex Needs Bounce Back includes exercises and worksheets, as well as breaking down the principles of the latest research, making them easy to apply to everyday situations. This 'magic box' of ideas and remedies is perfect for parents and carers, friends and families of children with disabilities, special educational needs, and mental or physical health needs, as well as professionals working with these children.