The Tidal Model of Mental Health Recovery - Essay Example

? The Tidal Model of Mental Health Recovery by Theorist Phil Baker al Affiliation The Tidal Model of Mental Health Recovery by Theorist Phil Baker Introduction There are several beliefs about the metaparadigms of nursing and how these ideas are incorporated into a particular nursing theory. The definition of the metaparadigms from the perspective of the theorist contains such elements as the person, nursing, health, and the environment. In this study, the Tidal Model of mental health recovery by theorist Phil Barker will be examined. Tidal Model originated in the early 1980s, and it was based on Phil Barker’s work on women diagnosed with manic depression and on Poppy Buchanan-Barker’s work on individuals diagnosed with multiple disabilities. . The model was inspired by Shoma Morita’s work. Morita is renowned for developing a unique type of psychotherapy in the 1920s. Morita believed that his role was to help the patients learn directly from life and not to change or fix them. The model was also inspired by individuals who worked with the theorist in the past forty years. The model mainly deals with issues related to such mental health problems as addiction, dementia, psychosis, and the like. The model is based on particular assumptions about people, their ability to change, and their experiences of problems of living. These assumptions are described in the ten commitments to be accomplished by both health care practitioners and patients. The function of the nurse in this model is to control and engage the individuals in relation to controlling or managing their distress. The nurse is also supposed to give the patient the ability to develop strategies for coping with his or her anxiety. Statement of Beliefs My perspective of nursing is that a nurse is a caring person who treats the patient as a whole and not as the disease that he or she is suffering. A nurse will be one that will help the patient to explore his or her illness and to find a solution. Origin of the Theory/Theorist The Tidal Model is more than ten years old. The Tidal Model originated in the early 1980s from Phil Barker’s work with women diagnosed with manic depression and Poppy Buchanan-Barker’s work with individual having multiple disabilities. The experiences resulted in the realization that people were working very hard in attempt to change others. Eventually, a question rose between these two theorists as to how they could assist individuals live a more fruitful life by making use of interpersonal and personal resources they already have (Barker and Buchanan-Barker, 2008). The Tidal Model was inspired by the work of Shoma Morita. Morita is credited for developing a highly original type of psychotherapy in Japan in the 1920s. Morita described his patients as students, because he believed that his role was to assist them in learning directly from life and not to change or fix them. Morita’s most renowned axiom, “Do what needs to be done”, plays an important role in the philosophy of Tidal Model. For more than 80 years, Morita still reminds us that, though change is not very easy, living a meaningful and a more effective life requires an individual to act and not just talk idly about how one feels about life. However, the biggest influence on the Tidal Model development has been the individuals who have worked with the theorist in the past forty years. These people made the theorist learn that all people are patients, students, and professionals alike (Barker and Buchanan-Barker, 2008). When the model (the Tidal Model) was launched in the year 1997, its focus was only on “one nursing team in one service” (Barker and Buchanan-Barker, 2008). Within a period of ten years, the model has evolved into a global established theory of mental health recovery. The model was endorsed by nurses, users or consumers, and psychiatrists. Although with no success, a number of (more than 100) Tidal projects have been launched globally, specifically through word of mouth. The projects range across social and health care spectrum, that is, from out-patient and acute care and community clinics to high security forensic units (Barker and Buchanan-Barker, 2008). The problems of living are quite diverse; the problems range from individuals with addiction and psychosis experiences to those in the initial stages of dementia or those with experiences of autistic spectrum disorder. It is essential to use psychiatric language when communicating with other social and health care professionals. Finally, however, the practical aim of all Tidal work is to assist individuals in addressing their understanding of issues in living. The model seeks to create a sincere, person-centered approach to mental health care. From its inception, the model has sought to avoid psychological and psychiatric jargon. In an attempt to value individuals in care, the theorists have emphasized the utilization of patient’s ordinary language to define their extraordinary experiences (Barker and Buchanan-Barker, 2008). Assumptions of the Theory The Tidal Model is based on particular assumptions about people, their ability to change, and their experiences of problems (issues) of living. These values possibly indicate the main attraction for the nurses who are interested in assisting individuals in making their own changes instead of attempting to control or manage the patient’s symptoms. The assumptions are found within the ten commitments. The first commitment is value the voice. The story of an individual is the start and the end of the entire helping encounter. It encompasses both the experience of the individual’s distress and the hope for its resolve. Therefore, it is referred to as the voice of experience (Kidd, 2010). The second commitment is respect the language. The individual has created a unique method of telling his life story, of representing it to others in a way which the individual alone can know. The story’s language (complete with personal metaphors and culturally specific grammar) is the only way of understanding. Developing genuine curiosity is the third commitment. In this case, the individual is writing a life story and there is need to create ways of showing genuine interest in the narrative, so that others can understand the storyteller in the best way possible. The fourth commitment is becoming the apprentice. The individual is the world’s life story expert. Others can start learning something from the story, if they can only apply themselves respectfully and diligently to the task (Kidd, 2010). The fifth commitment is revealing the personal wisdom. The individual develops a powerful store of wisdom when writing his or her life story. One of the main tasks of the helper is to help the individual reveal that wisdom. The wisdom is utilized in sustaining the individual and guiding him or her in the voyage of discovery. Being transparent is the sixth commitment. The professional helper and the individual become a team. The relationship only prospers if both are willing to allow each other into their confidence. The professional assistant is an important position, and he or she should model this confidence building through transparency at all times and assist the individual in understanding precisely what is being done and the reasons behind it (Kidd, 2010). The seventh commitment is to make use of the available toolkit. The individual’s story contains a number of examples of what might work or what has worked for the individual. Thus, it represents the key tools that are essential to build or unlock the story of recovery. Craft the step beyond is the eighth commitment. The individual and the helper work together to develop an appreciation of what requires to be done at that moment. The first step is an important step, because it reveals the power of change (Kidd, 2010). The ninth commitment is to provide the gift of time. The most valuable item is the time spent between the individual and the helper. Time is necessary in times of change. The last and the tenth commitment is to understand that change is consistent. The model assumes that change cannot be avoided. This story is common in almost everyone. The professional helper’s task is to create awareness of “how that change is happening and how that knowledge might be used to steer the person out of danger and distress back on the course of discovery” (Kidd, 2010, p. 34). Level and Scope of the Theory The Tidal Model emerged from a number of studies which emphasized the necessity for mental health nursing. The model recognizes the centrality of interpersonal relationship in the practice of nursing. The principle of the model is incorporated into the processes of nursing for re-empowerment of the individual who has been disempowered by distress and anxiety in this setting. The role of the nurse in this model is to guide and engage the individual in relation to controlling his or her distress and to giving him or her the capabilities to develop strategies for coping with anxiety. It is important to note that there is little understanding of the patient anxiety management in the health care system (Gallaher, Webster, Lopez, Brown, & Evans, 2012). There is also little understanding of the manner in which management guidelines respond to these issues. The satisfaction of patients with their care while still at the hospital is regarded as an important part of quality of care. Patients who are satisfied are most likely to comply with the treatment recommendations. On the other hand, patients with a low degree of gratification with their care could be less educated and informed, and, therefore, lack the confidence to control or manage their situation at home. Ultimately, it may lead to frequent readmissions (Gallaher, Webster, Lopez, Brown, & Evans, 2012). Analysis and Evaluation of the Theory The model was originally framed as a set of philosophical, ethical, and moral commitments which the practitioners would be required to make if they were to restructure their practice in relation to the Tidal lines. When the practitioners compel themselves to the implementation of a new direction of caring and care, the impact extends far beyond the individual domain. It also affects both the social setting of practice and the team culture. In this sense, the Tidal Model values expressed have implications for receiving the nursing care and the practitioners involved in the delivery of the care. The individuals receiving the care are defined as clients, consumers, or patients. As stated earlier, the Tidal Model is based on a number of assumptions about individuals, the capability for change, and their experience of issues of living. In the context of mental health, nurses face multifaceted boundaries daily in an attempt to maintain and develop the therapeutic relationship. The Tidal Model offers a vehicle through which the nurse can successfully surf the boundaries (Kidd, 2010). References Barker, P., & Buchanan-Barker, P. (2008). Reclaiming nursing: Making it personal: The Tidal Model has had a considerable impact on mental health nursing in the eleven years since its inception. Phil Barker and Poppy Buchanan-Barker, with supporting views from a trust chief executive and a senior nurse, reflect on how the model has helped people to live more meaningful lives (Tidal Model). Mental Health Practice, 11(9). Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com/nrcx/infomark.do?&source=gale&srcprod=PPNU&prodId=NRC&userGroupName=inspire&tabID=T007&docId=A180065011&type=retrieve&contentSet=IAC-Documents&version=1.0 Gallaher, S., Webster, S., Lopez, V., Brown, P., & Evans, J. (2012). Patients’ satisfaction with mental health nursing interventions in the management of anxiety: Results of a questionnaire study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 2(2). Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com/nrcx/infomark.do?&source=gale&srcprod=NRC&prodId=NRC&userGroupName=inspire&tabID=T007&docId=A286827187&type=retrieve&contentSet=IAC-Documents&version=1.0 Kidd, J. (2010). Cultural boundary surfing in mental health nursing: A creative narration. Contemporary Nurse, 34(2). Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com/nrcx/infomark.do?&source=gale&srcprod=PPNU&prodId=NRC&userGroupName=inspire&tabID=T007&docId=A228320592&type=retrieve&contentSet=IAC-Documents&version=1.0 Read More