To reverse the disabling effects of Schizophrenia by reversing introspection and regression, and to facilitate personality developement that results in the indvidual being able to be someone.
APPROACH.
"All you need is a witness is a central anti-psychiatry concept." By this David Cooper means that the patient needs someone who is listening
to them and knowing them without saying anything or making an interpretation.
Listening to what subject has to say. Try and understand what is being said. Do not look for some hidden meaning or speculate on why this
or that is being said. Keep it real simple. As David Cooper says "telling the truth is a symptom of mental illness." A communicative
subject, while in a psychotic break, will tell anyone willing to listen what he is actually experiencing. Please do not dismiss what is
said as Paranoia, delusions etc. It may well be but to the subject it is real. Telling the subject that he is wrong, deluded etc will
result in shutting up the patient and pushing him further into his madness. Respond to the subject as a friend not as patient. Respond
as someone who believes in the person and who has hope for recovery. Be pleased to see the individual. Find something you like about him
or her. Be a friend.
Eric Setz wrote this page 5th May 2005. Last modified 15th October 2006.
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