Treatment and Rehabilitation of Severe Mental Illness

I highly recommend this book to those working with people who are struggling with severe mental and emotional disorders, and are questioning the paradigm shift in the mental health establishment. For over a century state hospitals have relied on the medical model to treat people. This book gives the history of the medical model, how the word "psychopathology" became a construct, and when the shift from the medical model to psychiatric rehabilitation, or recovery, began. It is not easy reading. But if you are truly interested in making a difference in the lives of people who are struggling for their mental and emotional lives, then I urge you to read this book. It will also help you to understand why those using the medical model in the mental health profession are incensed about the mere idea of people with mental disorders being rehabilitated. You may even work with such people. This book will also help you understand their reasoning, and inspire you to take "the road less traveled" as we go through this paradigm shift.