How can we understand recovery in context?
The problem
For decades, mental health clinicians have based their treatments and measurements on an idea of recovery as decrease in symptoms and improvement in functioning. But research into the lived experience of recovery shows that these are not the only and most important aspects of recovery for patients.
The alternative
Qualitative research on stories of experience has identified what recovery means to people. Reviews of this type of research have led to alternative conceptualizations of recovery that focus on regaining identity, connection and meaning. It has also become clear that people can experience recovery while their symptoms persist. ‘Clinical’ and ‘personal’ recovery do not necessarily appear to be related and require a different form of care or support.
Nienke’s contribution
Meanwhile, common processes in personal recovery are well mapped out. But the personal recovery process, on the contrary, does not model itself well in general laws. Therefore, with my research at the Verhalenbank Psychiatrie (UMC Utrecht), I want to make precisely differences in recovery understandable and put them in context. What matters to people in recovery, and why? Answers to these questions can help better tailor and personalize care. From an emancipatory point of view, I think it is important to critically examine the sociocultural embedding of personal narratives as well. On what prevailing conceptions of mental illness do people build in their meaning-making? And what effect do those views have? Narrative analysis is my preferred method of exploring these questions.
Do you have questions or want to get ideas? Contact Nienke van Sambeek on the following topics:
- Personal recovery
- Meaning
- Narrative identity.
- Narrative research methods
- Discourse Analysis
- Sociocultural context.
- Patient perspective
- Synthesis of experiential knowledge