Caseness and Narrative: Contrasting Approaches to People Psychiatrically Labeled

Caseness and Narrative contrasts two approaches to helping persons in emotional distress. The first, called Caseness, sees signs of distress primarily as symptoms without significant meaning and leads to a diagnosis that names the experience. Often, it is followed by powerful methods to minimize or stop symptom expression. A second approach is attentive to Narrative, allowing a person's story to unfold as much as possible and using a narrative structure to frame the process. Through a more relational and narrative-focused approach, the potentially transformative dimensions of lived experience are supported. We invite you to a greater and deeper understanding that may help you, your family, and your friends support those going through difficult emotional experiences, which may also hold the promise of a fuller life.