‘Dale’: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of a service user's experience with a crisis resolution/home treatment team in the United Kingdom
Authors: Nelson L. J. , Miller P . K . , Ashman D. 
Published: September 2016

Accessible summary

What is known about the subject?

This paper describes crisis resolution/home treatment (CRHT) teams, which are part of mental health services in the United Kingdom. CRHT is expected to assist individuals in building resilience and work within a recovery approach.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

This paper arises from an interview with one individual, Dale, as part of a larger study exploring service users’ experiences of CRHT. It adds to the body of narrative knowledge in CRHT through Dale's co‐authorship of this paper, reflecting on his original interview 4 years later, with co‐authors providing critical interpretation of his experience, in turn supported by cognate literature.

What are the implications for practice?

Implications for practice are considered, themselves mediated through Dale's own descriptions of how CRHT interventions impacted upon him. These impacts are analysed with respect to three themes: Resilience, Recovery and Power.

It is centrally contended that clinicians need to more clearly comprehend three core matters. First, what resilience ‘is’ for service users as well as the complex process through which these individuals move in developing resilience. Second, the distinction that service users might make between ‘recovery’ and ‘functionality’, and how this in turn can impact on individuals both in personal and socioeconomic sense. Finally, the mechanics of power within CRHT contexts and how these interpersonal dynamics can affect the relationship between service user and clinician in practice.

Introduction and Aim

The central purpose of this paper, part of a larger study exploring the experiences of Service Users (SUs) with CRHT, is to emphasise the importance of the SU voice itself within the domain. Following an interrogation of the historical contexts of CRHT.

Method

This paper uses interpretative phenomological approach around detailed thematic examination of an extended, semi‐structured with a single SU: Dale. Moreover, four years after the interview was originally conducted, Dale was himself invited to reflect upon, and critically re‐evaluate, his initial participation as a co‐author of this paper. In this way, a genuinely participant‐centred narrative on experiences with CRHT could be generated.

Implications for Practice

This resulted in Dale describing what ‘crisis’ meant to him, and his personal journey within that crisis. Although framing some experiences as negative, he primarily argues that the CRHT team was very personable, affirming his personal values and beliefs, and encouraging him to use coping skills that he had utilised effectively in prior periods of crisis.

Analysis highlights three major themes permeating Dale's narrative: Resilience, Recovery and Power. It is contended that this analysis begins to demonstrate implications for practice and highlight that (and how) CRHT clinicians might more clearly engage with what resilience ‘is’ for SUs, and also the complex process through which these individuals move in developing it. Equally, it is proposed that practitioners should be mindful of the distinction that SUs might make between ‘recovery’ and ‘functionality’, and how this in turn can impact on individuals both in personal and socio‐economic sense. Finally, the mechanics of power within CRHT contexts are foregrounded, and how these interpersonal dynamics can affect the working relationship between SU and clinician.