In Abolishing the Concept of Mental Illness: Rethinking the Nature of Our Woes, Richard Hallam takes aim at the very concept of mental illness and explores new ways of thinking about and responding to psychological distress. This timely book rebuts arguments put forward to defend the illness myth and traces historical sources of the mind/body debate. Insightful and easy to read, it will appeal to all professionals and academics working in clinical psychology, as well as psychotherapists and other mental health practitioners.
Key Features
- Challenges the traditional concept of mental illness.
- Explores new perspectives on psychological distress.
- Rebuts common arguments defending the illness myth.
- Provides a balanced overview of the mind/body debate.
- Accessible for professionals in clinical psychology and mental health.
Additional Information
Though the concept of mental illness has infiltrated everyday language, academic research, and public policy-making, there is very little evidence that woes are caused by somatic dysfunction. The author presents a balanced overview of the past utility and current disadvantages of employing a medical illness metaphor against the backdrop of current UK clinical practice.
