Humane clinic - Psychotherapy, counselling, education & consultancy

Just stumbled upon this poster from 2016 when we showed Healing Voices movie in the community. This led to the journey that is now Just Listening Community in partnership with Humane Clinic

Love the work of PJ Moynihan and Oryx Cohen - you have been people that have enacted change - thank you

Love the intentions of community who want a different way to connect and be human with one another when in distress

This film led to many different events and ideas happening including

ReAwaken Australia

Psychosis 365

Just Listening Community

Manifesto for compassionate change

Publicly presenting Dissociachotic

Su***de Narratives being published

And many people being responded to with compassion, connection and meaningful action!

Sharing 2nd in the 4 part discussion on Neurodiversity -

Part 2: Are we all neurodivergent nowadays?

By John Cromby and Lucy Johnstone

This interesting and important discussion series jointly published on Mad In America and Mad in the UK by 2 people of strong ethics and integrity in bringing this discussion into an open forum on a subject that can and does polarise but could be more whole and valuable if open and meaningful discussion and exploration of the variety of understandings and meanings were more freely and compassionately considered.

I have attached as a repost to the first part as this in a small way encourage discussion on this platform ❤️

https://www.madintheuk.com/2024/07/neurodiversity/

Part 1: Neurodiversity—What Exactly Does It Mean? - Mad in the UK Neurodiversity is inspiring both a developing social movement and an academic paradigm which is being interpreted in different ways.

Group Supervision - Online

+ 1 space available for online supervision group beginning 8th
August 2024

+ Focus on working with individuals who hear voices,
experiences altered states, identify or have received a label of
psychosis

+ Supervisors - Matt Ball and Berny Maywald

For information: [email protected]

In SA, as I imagine elsewhere, we need a change in the way we connect with any person experiencing an altered state - often referred to as psychosis.

With all the posturing, politically correct statements and 'alternatives' (that are not alternative as they ultimately subserve to the current patriarchal, diagnostic models), the voices of those who are said to be most marginalised in the MH industry, the person said by others to be 'psychotic', get the most harsh, coercive and oppressive response.

Inpatient and Community Treatment Orders (ITO/CTO), hospital stays, polypharmacy & high dose prescribing, ECT and marginalisation from society is the broad offering in the MHS in SA. The NDIS industry talks about inclusion and choice for people with disabilities, but in reality when the label of 'schizophrenia' is muted, the 'referral' on to the abusive system follows as soon as distress is expressed by the individual.

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist report shows an increase in treatment orders, restraint (they will argue less of one kind or another but the net amount goes up), increase in su***de numbers and su***de attempts in hospital. Who does this adversely effect most significantly? 'psychotic' people. This is only compounded if you are an indigenous person in 'psychosis' or from one of the other genuinely marginalised, voiceless groups.

The group of people in altered states is a problem for the government as they keep presenting to ED. Why? Because the MH means the drug, incarceration, detention orders and the biomedical lens underlying its responses. No professional has to send someone to hospital, force a drug or apply for a treatment order. It is a choice of the professional to move away from human to human connection and humane alterntives.

The 'NGO's' talk of alternatives, but the risk narrative is only a scratch under the surface.

The political class cannot take a 'risk' on genuine alternatives, as this risks their reputation, push back from medical and nursing worlds and their political vote.

Do individuals ask for hospital and drugs? No, but they sure hell don't speak openly against it for fear of repercussions such as increased drugs and admissions and treatment orders: this is a rationale position by the so call 'psychotic'.

None of this is suggest people are not in distress when seeking connection, compassion and love from supporters. But the neoliberal nonsense and cancel culture is alive and well in the lives of the person in Dissociachotic distress in SA.

Humane Clinic has provided successive governments cost saving and humane alternatives, but these do not fit with the ingroup - of which the 'psychotic' person is never a member.

Just Listening Dissociachotic Community will begin small, with no funding. It will begin in relationship with those said to be 'psychotic', It will begin despite the juggernaut of the MH industry complex.

Time for love, Time for connection, Time for power back in community.

I am sharing this link as I think it is an intelligent and well considered discussion, the first of 4. I am aware that even putting this on social media leaves me wide open to the wonderful cancel culture and creates a dilemma to either attack me or avoid the conversation and discussion.

The authors are both people I would count as ethical and honest humans who embrace discussion and connection. The subject is vital as a discussion point, in part because the dominant social media and systems narratives includes never having a proper discussion.

I hope those that choose to actually read the entire article, which i imagine will be few, find it of value and look forward to reflection discussions that might ensue.

Thanks for the effort of writing this series for the discussion to be possible Lucy Johnstone and John Cromby

Part 1: Neurodiversity—What Exactly Does It Mean? - Mad in the UK Neurodiversity is inspiring both a developing social movement and an academic paradigm which is being interpreted in different ways.

The Octopus is A model for community-led care and support that tackles imbalances and inequality in the system.

It is exciting to see people coming together in the systems doing something different.

We are grateful at Humane Clinic for the value placed in Just Listening as the plan to train staff across the Octopus plan is slowly building. Exciting to be planning to deliver a train the trainer model to London in this way with trusted and ethical practice groups and individuals Saul kaufman and Healthcare Central London.

It is also a great privilege and joy to see Just Listening being in the same framework as the Community Health and Wellbeing Workers (local people connecting other local people in a very skilful and human way). The work of Matthew Harris and Connie J. is inspiring to bringing and support this approach

The images below:

1. the Octopus on a page showing a broad overview of what it is and what will be considered.

2. A photo of two fab people introducing to a GP / primary care space in London this week Amanda Bueno de Mesquita Connie J.

It is incredible to see Government and other agencies embracing Just Listening for staff and the public. Offering one approach to human connection is key to removing the 'us and them' (that doesn't really exist 😀 )

The Su***de Prevention strategy could be considered to promote a Dissociachotic construct: The alternative might be a loving connection strategy

The Su***de Prevention movement has been well intentioned, but after so long heading in a similar position it seems that reflecting on what is underpinning some of the actions might be useful.
The pervading idea of sending people to services has not really worked out well. The services are often over run, too expensive or a person is moved between services as they present to much risk!

But we could also reflect on the conflicts of the industry and the people within the industry. People are now employed to be with others in the community. They therefore need to keep their job as a priority.
People are still using predictive risk assessments, even though these have been demonstrated not to work and even governments comment on this at a national level.
Safety planning is the latest excitement, but these are routinely used as discharge tools to alleviate professionals' sense of risk offset.
Trainings in SP almost always place the person supporting as wiser... and place the suicidal person as 2nd in the line of knowing what is happening.
Legislation is the latest stick to 'do' SP!

This all feels rather Dissociachotic - placing stories and referrals in the way of the human to human connection.

Worse still, to comment and critique the status quo is almost heretic and leads to cancel culture.

Perhaps su***de prevention models lie in our communities as mutual being in loving connection, but this challenges the current industry and culture.

Love, mutuality, connection and support in community is readily available and if the billions were focused here It might have a profound impact.

The SP strategy is a Dissociachotic construct: an alternative could be a loving connection strategy. The Su***de Prevention movement has been well intentioned, but after so long heading in a similar position it seems that reflecting on what is underpinning s...

Immediate availability for Psychotherapy or Supervision

[email protected]

Humane Clinic Supervision group (online) begins in August with a focus on Humane Understanding and responding to psychosis.

Following the workshops last week on the same theme, we are moving forward with opportunities to practice in humane ways supported through reflective (clinical) supervision, building a community network to support practice and practice within a solid theory based to unpin reflection and humane approaches.

The Humane Clinic Supervision model will form the framework for the supervision sessions. It is an approach that includes theories of:

Dissociachotic framework

Just Listening

Power Threat Meaning Framework

Su***de Narratives

This Supervision group will be facilitated by Humane Clinic psychotherapists Matt Ball and Berny Maywald.

Only 2 places left for this closed group supervision.

Please contact Humane Clinic to discuss / secure place if you are supporting people in Dissociachotic states of being.

Offering humane connection to any person in a dissociachotic way of being is a beautiful journey and allows the supporter to move away from pathologising othering practices towards mutual growth.

***denarratives

Coming very soon -
Details to follow.

The Just Listening Dissociachotic Community will begin to provide a therapuetic community space for any person experiencing a Dissociachotic reality.
Initially 1 day per week, the offering of a non residential psychotherapuetic Community as an option for a person in psychotic distress will begin in Southern Adelaide -
Until we find funding support to provide this service as a distinct choice 5 days per week as an alternative to other mental health services that focus on diagnosis, risk and medication.
This project will place human to human connection as the 'treatment' choice. The cost savings to the public purse to provide this community is compelling, the human value is incalculable.

Inspired by others in history who have provided such spaces, the knowledge and experience gained through the original Just Listening Community will be used to offer any person in Dissociachotic states a humane relational option in their lives.

In the absence of an immediate options for funding, I will volunteer time to make this project happen. What a joy to spend time in connection to any wonderful human who is seeking connection when in an altered state. Humane understanding and responses to 'Psychosis' is a reality that falls outside the neoliberal service ideologies of the current mental health offerings. It is time we recognised the wisdom and meaning inherent in needing to be in a Dissociachotic state and the opportunities for individuals and communities in listening to the wisdom of any person letting us know of the dilemmas of living in our communities. The mutual learning is abundant. 🧡💚🧡💚🧡



Exciting times ahead at Humane Clinic and Just Listening Community

When an NGO is 98.5% funded by the government, does that mean it is still an NGO? A dilemma of the MH industry - NGO's that are really government funded therefore GO's not NGO's?
These dilemmas are important to acknowledge, but perhaps even more important is to contemplate the lack of potential for genuine change & movement in positions maintaining ideology, lack of change in policy, maintenance in century old underpinnings, the distinct lack of room for change in the political context and no doubt many other aspects in this context.

In Australia, one NGO is publicly listed as receiving 98.5% of its funds from Government. This organisation has large national based projects that are leading the 'change' in MH - but what genuine change can occur in this context? What agendas are being served in this scenario?
Other large 'NGO's' that only receive 60-70% of their funding are broadly in the same boat.

Another conundrum is the 61% of donations being spent on getting donations, by an emerging charity. Whilst the narrative is of the important work of the charity, one wonders if the people donating are aware of the 60%+ use of their donation. After this cost, grants are awarded, of which there will be further 'costs' before the money is spent on the 'important' work of the charity: over 70% of donations are spent on the administration of the gathering and distribution of the donations.

This post is not intended to be unkind to specific organisations, but it does speak to a difficulty with the industry of mental health that has tipped to the balance of bringing an economy of employment, and feeding other streams of the economy, at the expense of the primary value being that of to support a person in distress.

The models that these organisations are serving are also the outdated 'mental illness' frameworks. The organisations are also very closely aligned to governments, celebrity and social media, factors that may well distract even further from needs of the individuals and communities in distress as a primary function.

Reflections that have been emerging and were explicitly propelled during the recent workshops at Humane Clinic based human to human connection approaches to understanding and responding to psychosis. The many of the audiences identified they would like to work with the alternative approaches to that of the mainstream MH industry, but could not do so due to such things as:
KPI's of government and organisations
Professional registration docs
Organisational procedures
Risk assessment requirements
Threat of Losing a job
The need to 'refer on' to services (that often are not available!)
Beliefs in the chemical imbalance theories!..the list goes on

And all the while, it seems that most people in the industry would like to do the best by a person in distress - whilst actually contributing to the building of an industry rather than meeting the human in need with the only really resource available - being mutually human.

It still feels confusing that bad outcomes of prescribing psychotropic drugs in people's lives do not have to be justified, despite documented harms since prescribing these drugs began, but if we support people to come off the drugs it is a more controversial position.
[* deprescribing is actually part of prescribing of course].

This clip is 6 years ago... prescribing continues to rage in high doses and poly pharmacy approaches.

✂️ Q &A after a Keynote in 2018 @Themes. 48 seconds · Clipped by Humane Clinic · Original video "2018 TheMHS Conference keynote Q&A: Matt Ball" by TheMHS Learning Network

The current frame within the mental health system continues to identify the need to get rid of the 'psychotic' state. This of course is counter to the survival need of the human who is in distress, and who is attempting human connection, even if that is expressed in a most unusual fashion - voices, visions, isolation, unusual beliefs etc.

For any person trying to find a place of human-to-human connection that allows them to express their experience in the way that is most current for them, It is unlikely that this will be the mental health system, if the expression is a Dissociachotic state.

There has been many and varied offerings that have demonstrated the attempt to provide and facilitate a space of humane human to human connection most notably the work of Laing, Mosher, Cornwall, Dent-Pearce, Romme and Escher, the list goes on of course. Humane Clinic is just the latest in a long list of spaces that have been offered as a way for wonderful humans to connection with themselves and others whilst also expressing the vulnerability of human-to-human connection.

The work of Just Listening Community continued this work and demonstrated the possibilities in a community led setting.

The settings and people mentioned have been extraordinary in providing environments where individuals can feel freedom to try being all that they are, without the threat of system-based responses that create additional threat and lack of freedom to be equally human.

The system position does not work for the person in distress or the person facilitating the system response. Returning the wisdom and compassion permission to the individual and community would be a sustainable and humane alternative.

Just Listening Community

The mental health system is likely not the best place for a humane response to Dissociachotic being The current frame within the mental health system continues to identify the need to get rid of the 'psychotic' state. This of course is counter to the surviv...

Beautiful afternoon with inspiring people at Humane Clinic. A research meeting with Prof Bernard Guerin and PhD Candidate Adan Richards and PhD Supervisor Michele Jarldorn and Bernadette Maywald Psychotherapist.

So wonderful to spend time with individuals focussed on hearing the voice of those who are so often voiceless 'people labelled as 'psychotic' when discussing Adan's PhD : Contextualising psychosis behaviours.

Really exciting to get eyes on new books by Bernard, Adan and others.
Very few voices of difference in SA as the mainstream maintains its focuss on the status quo of mental health industry.

In the Contextualising Eating Disorders book, Bernard and colleagues are offering an extremely rare voice of difference in this area.

Free Event 🎓 ADDITIONAL DATE
Friday 27th June - 09:30- 4pm

> Please be aware there are limited spaces and the event is in person [not online]

> The first date for this workshop 'sold out' in 36 hours. We are delighted to announce we have been awarded a grant to provide two workshops. This means ensure we can meet demand for places.
If you missed out on a ticket for the first date, you can now grab your ticket the second date - we look forward to welcoming you.

See poster below for details of a free workshops at Humane Clinic.

There is a desperate need to consider humane understanding and responses to any person experiencing distress that gets labelled as psychosis.
Currently the services offered in SA (and Australia) are broadly based around medication, diagnosis, hospital, treatment orders and ECT).

But, If we understand a fellow being as being equally human in all that they are, we might not need to use the labels and harsh responses.

This workshop will be a hopeful and vibrant space to explore and understand the common human reality that is so often written off as a symptom of a mental illness.

> For info and to reserve a place:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/humane-understanding-and-responses-to-psychosis-tickets-927038114957

> (Please note, this workshop had is provided due to a generous grant - details to follow.
* Please do not book for this workshop if you have got a ticket for the first date).



Carers SA ISPS Australia Mind Australia Mad In America Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia Wellways Just Listening Community Mental Health Coalition of South Australia Skylight Mental Health Uniting Communities Centacare Catholic Family Services Australian Association of Social Workers Australian Counselling Association Australian College of Nurse Practitioners Mentally Fit EP City of Onkaparinga Christies Beach- Community Group SA Health University of South Australia Flinders University Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - PACFA SA Psychologists Resources and Discussion Group Lived Experience Australia Neporendi Aboriginal Forum Inc. Aboriginal Family Support Services Katrine Hildyard MP

1970s Interview R D Laing on Kingsley House, Mental Illness From the Kinolibrary Archive Film collections. To order the clip clean and high res or to find out more visit http://www.kinolibrary.com. Clip ref AB170 1970...

Free Event 🎓

Thursday 27th June 2024

Please see poster below for details of a free workshops at Humane Clinic.

There is a desperate need to consider humane understanding and responses to any person experiencing distress that gets labelled as psychosis.

Currently the services offered in SA (and Australia) are broadly based around medication, diagnosis, hospital, treatment orders and ECT).

But, If we understand a fellow being as being equally human in all their being, we might not need to use the labels and harsh responses.

This workshop will be a hopeful and vibrant space to explore understand the common human reality that is so often written off as a symptom of a mental illness.

Please be aware there is limited spaces and the event is in person [not online]

For info and to reserve a place:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/920559577477

(Please note, this workshop had been intended to be provided with a grant, but the outcomes have been delayed. As a result, and in direct response to the importance of the subject, Humane Clinic will underwrite the event in hope that the grant is awarded - It will go ahead regardless of grant outcome).

'Striking'!
Filming day today

"I have fears about the trauma therapy model and its over stating what it can do. Concerns that mirror those of my concerns about traditional psychiatry models ( the main model still practised in reality). And then concerns that trauma therapy has become the new untouchable, easy hyperbole from agencies, practitioners, governments to say they are 'doing' trauma therapy better than anyone else as treatment. And then concerns that really we tell everyone trauma has changed the way the brain operates and we are essentially back to the wise old therapist being able to fix the broken patient. This is bu****it of course."

From the blog - see below

A Blog about a Blog Matthew Roberts contacted me and ask if i might view his blog and if I had any thoughts about it. So, I read the blog and then responded with my thoughts ('My Response' below). Matthews Blog:https://mydoctorshandwriting.com/2024/05/21/we-are-not-broken-but-the-illness-model-is/ • From there we hav...

Humane Clinic currently has availability (in person and online) to offer individual psychotherapy to any person experiencing psychosis and to offer supervision to professionals working with any person experiencing psychosis.

For self-referral / referral contact:

[email protected]

0466 368 022

For more information about Humane Clinic approaches:

https://www.humaneclinic.com.au/humaneclinicapproaches

Humane Clinic ReAwaken Podcast

Worth a listen if you like discussions on different perspectives on what is referred to as mental health.

Second series quite different to the first.

https://youtu.be/PblrxQdYNmU?si=xmZDxpHJMfGn1pca

https://open.spotify.com/show/5exPe9wjWFxm6lBpbfAepo?si=OW1LRyScSDuOu3Dxtzq13A

ReAwaken S2E2 - The 'So What' Humane Clinic therapists Matt Ball and Rory Ritchie check in to begin a new run of podcast episodes, share experiences from hospital emergency wards, and dis...