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staff for “wasting time” or “allowing themselves to be manipulated” by those of us who need

our stories to be heard with regard.

Others find it impossible to find the time to listen properly. Some are just plain inexperienced
and are not getting enough supervision to develop the skills they need.

In some circumstances, we can try to find a different person with whom to share our story.
Unfortunately, in the public system, we rarely have a choice over who our ‘case manager’ is.

Case workers can come from different clinical backgrounds, including social work,

psychiatric nursing and occupational therapy. Some disciplines give a better grounding in

genuine listening than others.

It can be difficult to find out which clinicians have what training in multi-disciplinary teams.
It is OK to ask questions about their qualifications, or what their inclinations are in terms of

therapeutic approaches. Some might tell you what they think you want to hear rather than

what they actually do. Nonetheless, it is worth questioning if you are confused or unsure.

Talking Therapies

In the various forms of psychotherapy (or ‘talking therapies’) there can be an opportunity for
us to really share our stories with clinicians.

Firstly, there is more time! Secondly, certain talking therapies understand the relationship
between ‘therapist and client’ as central to the therapeutic process, and there is more place for

storytelling here. However, there are still issues to consider in the way we tell our stories in
these contexts.

• Talking therapies are not all the same. For example, ‘narrative therapy’ – in theory at

least – is one that honours story and has formed a central place in some indigenous ways of

social, emotional and spiritual renewal. However, some consumers argue that the whole
idea of ‘narrative therapy’ colonises our stories and relies too much on interpretation and

clinically driven re-working of our stories, taking from us something as basic as our

understanding of our own lives. Not all consumers think this, however – there are many
who find this type of therapy refreshing and powerful.

• Despite any touchy-feelies, power is at play. There is a huge power differential between a

client and a therapist. The reality is that the clinician’s interpretation of our stories will be
the one mental health services, and other social institutions, are more likely to believe. In

most relationships, it is the person with least power who can see the power dynamics –

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