Playing in psychosocial nursing at the Cassel: a psychoanalytic perspective

Purpose This paper aims to describe the role of playing in nursing work within a modified therapeutic community – the Cassel hospital. Design/methodology/approach The methodology behind the writing is a reflective practice, where the author draws on her own experience of working as a psychosocial nurse at the Cassel and make links with psychoanalytic theory to suggest reasons for the importance of playing in the treatment of patients with histories of abuse. The tumult and intensity of the emotional work with patients led her to think of playing in terms of the Carnivalesque, and to associated practices such as the use of clowning and ritual in the attempt to face the most difficult things. Findings Within a culture of enquiry such as the Cassel, being playful can help loosen rigid fears about just what will be found once we start enquiring into our inner worlds. Practical implications The implications can be extended beyond this to nurse education in general. Psychosocial nursing and, in particular, teaching about patients who self-harm are increasingly marginalised within nursing degrees, pushed out of the curriculum by the requirement for more physical health-care training within mental health nursing degrees. Originality/value This paper supports arguments in favour of adjusting nurse education to include greater emphasis on relational practice.