Dialogical Meetings in Social Networks

Dialogic practices have been described and analyzed to a certain extent in the fields of therapy and other psychosocial work―and so have approaches based on network encounters and multi-professional work. But these two, networks and dialogues, have seldom been placed in the same framework. Yet dialogic encounters between private and professional networks have great potentials in dissolving problems.
The book describes and analyzes two dialogic network practices, Open Dialogues and Anticipation Dialogues. Both are the result of development and research during almost two decades. They both bring professional and private networks into dialogue and strive at combining resources. Open Dialogues were developed for psychiatric crisis situations, whereas Anticipation Dialogues are at home in less acute situations, in multi-agency muddles where the helper systems are stuck.
The book gives an account detailed enough for practitioners who want to apply the approaches. It also delves into theory. The authors analyze Open and Anticipation Dialogues and enter paradigmatic discussion about encounters in therapy and psychosocial work in general. The book is meant for professionals in the fields of psychosocial work―from therapists to day care personnel, from social workers to school teachers―as well as researchers and academics. This volume speaks to policymakers about organizing services, and as it touches upon dialogues with and within private networks, it reaches out to clients, too.