‘Personally Speaking’ is a unique and richly illustrated collection of personal stories from past and present leaders in Psychiatry. It invites readers to join them in contemplating what may be learned from difficult experiences in our lives and consider how this relates to our growth and maturation as people, and practitioners.
It arose from concern that our medical culture has often failed to emphasise the value of integrating our personal and professional experience, resulting in us living as divided selves. It acknowledges that learning to value and share personal experience needs care and skill but holds great potential to support more integrated and relational ways of training, learning and living.
The heart and soul of psychiatry are intimately concerned with the human endeavour to connect with and care for people in profound states of mental distress. At its best, psychiatry is based upon the offer of a respectful, compassionate and understanding relationship, in support of personal recovery.
To achieve this, Psychiatrists, in fact all doctors and healthcare workers, need safe opportunities to cultivate core human qualities such as care, kindness and compassion alongside a skilled application of theory and treatments, both are needed.
These intimate personal stories offer companionable support for re-visioning, rebalancing and, (re) humanising medical awareness through learning to value vulnerability, for the benefit of patients, services and practitioners alike.
‘Personally speaking’ is a warm invitation for you to join us in contemplating our lives and taking time to reflect upon the relationship between your life, experience, development and work.
