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CHAPTER 32 Phil Barker 633

MAJOR CONCEPTS & DEFINITIONS —cont’d

and ideas that are known only to the person. In this which can be received from and given to others.
private world, the distress called “mental illness” is This becomes the basis of the person’s appreciation
first experienced. All people keep much of their pri- of the value of mutual support, which can be accessed
vate world secret, only revealing to others what they in everyday life.
wish them to know. This is why people are often such
a “mystery” to us, even when they are close friends or Water—A Metaphor †
relatives. The Tidal Model emphasizes the unpredictability
In the Tidal Model, the Self Domain becomes of human experience through the core metaphor
the focus of our attempts to help the person feel of water. Life is a journey taken on an ocean of
“safe” and “secure,” where we try to help the person experience. All human development—including
address and begin to deal with the private fears, the experience of health and illness—involves dis-
anxieties, and other threats to emotional stability coveries made on that journey across the ocean of
related to specific problems of living. The main experience. At critical points in the journey, peo-
focus is to develop a “bridging” relationship and to ple may experience storms or piracy. The ship may
help the person develop a meaningful Personal Secu- begin to take in water, and the person may face the
rity Plan. This work is the basis for development of prospect of drowning or shipwreck. The person
the person’s “self-help” program, which will sustain may need to be guided to a safe haven, to under-
the person on return to everyday life. The World take repairs, or to recover from the trauma. Once
Domainis the place where the person shares some of the ship is intact or the person has regained his
the experiences from the Self Domain, with other or her sea legs, the journey can begin again as
people, in the person’s social world. When people the person sets his or her course on the ocean of
talk to others about their private thoughts, feelings, experience.
beliefs, or other experiences known only to them, This metaphor illustrates many of the elements of
they go to the World Domain. a psychiatric crisis and the necessary responses to this
In the Tidal Model, the World Domain is the focus human predicament. “Storms at sea” is a metaphor
of our efforts to understand the person and the per- for problems of living; “piracy” evokes the experience
son’s problems of living. This is done through the use of rape or a “robbery of the self” that severe distress
of the Holistic Assessment. At the World Domain, can produce. Many users describe the overwhelming
we try to help the person begin to identify and nature of their experience of distress as akin to
address specific problems of living on an everyday “drowning,” and this often ends in a metaphorical
basis through use of dedicated One-to-One Sessions. “shipwreck” on the shores of an acute psychiatric
The Others Domain is where the person acts out unit. A proper “psychiatric rescue” should be akin to
everyday life with other people, such as family, “lifesaving” and should lead the person to a genuine
friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and profession- “safe haven,” where necessary human repair work can
als. The person engages in different interpersonal take place.
and social encounters that may be influenced by
others, and may—in turn—influence others. The Guiding Principles ‡
organization and delivery of professional care and 1. A belief in the virtue of curiosity: the person
other forms of support is in the Others Domain. is the world authority on his or her life and
However, the key focus of the Tidal Model is dedi- its problems. By expressing genuine curiosity,
cated forms of group work—Discovery, Information- the professional can learn something of the
Sharing, and Solution-Finding. “mystery” of the person’s story.
By participating in these groups, the person de- 2. Recognition of the power of resourcefulness:
velops awareness of the value of social support, Rather than focusing on problems, deficits,

Continued