Therapist as Service User in the Construction of Theory

ABSTRACT This paper represents an attempt to bring together two aims, which seem, at first sight, to be of an inherently contradictory nature: to develop ideas towards theory construction in the psychotherapies alongside the telling of a personal story, which breaks down the artificial distinction between the providers and receivers of therapy. From this personal experience of crossing an artificial divide between being a psychotherapist and a service user, I found that a version of psychotherapy that privileges the uniqueness of the stories each of us tells about our lives and encourages the therapist to listen with humility to these stories is of greater importance than attempts to put into practice specific aspects of systemic psychotherapy theory. In doing so, the therapist is able to give space to the social, cultural, political and judicial context within which the problems that are brought into the therapy room have developed and can be understood. This can then create a therapy that has a greater sensitivity to the effects of social deprivation, poverty, abuse and institutionalised discrimination and prejudice. My theoretical conclusions about the importance of an understanding of such circumstances encountered by people who may seek our help as well as ourselves end again with a personal reflection that highlights an experience of the UK judicial system that can adversely affect the mental health of children and their parents.