'Mental Health Practice: a guide to compassionate care' examines the relationship between mental health professionals and people using services during the recovery process. The disabling distress experienced by many people with mental health problems is viewed from a holistic, person-centred perspective with the road to recovery being seen as the result of true collaboration between professionals and service users. This book is the second edition of 'Mental health Nursing: the art of compassionate care' and a companion book to 'Recovery: a guide for mental health practitioners'. The first in-depth exploration of the intentional use of self in mental health care and its significance in the recovery journey, extensively updated New content on action research, eco-psychology and organisational culture Story boxes illustrating key themes in compassionate care Self-enquiry boxes engaging readers in reflective practice A primer on humanistic psychology and its relevance to mental health care

In this book the author charts the journey of recovery from severe and disabling mental health problems. The book's optimistic tone challenges the prevailing notion that recovery is an outcome open only to a minority. It describes the necessary transformation of mental health services into a recovery culture. At the heart of the book are five recovery stories which are a testament to the indomitable nature of the human spirit that enables us to rise above adversity. It is these themes that mental health professionals must engage with if they are to be guides and companions to people on their recovery journeys. Uses a model of recovery based on the 'hero's journey' Maps a clear pathway to recovery that can be used collaboratively by clients and mental health professionals In-depth exploration of recovery relationships and a recovery culture