About Me
Presently, I live in Oregon and work as therapist and clinical social work associate collaborating with adult individuals toward the goal of rich and vital life. My roots are in existential philosophy and psychotherapy which places the questions of self-definition and created meaning at the heart of the human life process. Practically, I am passionate about the exploration and clarification of values - the things we want to stand for with our lives - and how those values can lead to vitality and meaning even in a life that includes suffering.
I graduated from Boise State University with a Master of Social Work and have worked in various psychiatric settings ranging from acute crisis respite to secure involuntary hospitalization. Gradually I came to question the institutional attitude of psychiatry and mental health toward persons labeled "mentally ill." I began to recognize the intersection of social and economic oppression with the structure and functions of mental health institutions. I experienced the reality of bigotry and prejudice toward persons with differing lived experiences in the world.
Careful and extensive reading of first hand peer-reviewed research over many years revealed just how little evidence there is to support the notion that mental illness is a literal disease like diabetes or cancer. Evidence for heavy reliance on the use of psychotropic medications was scant, while evidence exposing the limited usefulness and long term dangers of neuroleptics was pervasive.
As I continued my journey in direct practice, I came to morally and rationally oppose coercive treatment as both generally harmful and at odds with the spirit of social work practice. Issues of social control, classism and prejudice are rampant within the rationale that uphold these institutions today. While the lack of willpower and imagination by stakeholders within our present system means that involuntary treatment is sometimes unavoidable, I am personally committed to advocating for a day when not one person is psychiatrically incarcerated against their will for any period of time.
You are not sick. You are not broken. People can and do heal from even the most extreme cognitive and emotional distress. And if and when you look for support from a therapist, please do not settle for one that attempts to present as an expert, who insists you must take drugs forever to be "stable," or refuses to honor your own autonomy. Seek out a partner and an advocate - someone who will listen with love to your story, help you identify all your options when facing choices, and offer advice without interfering with your right to decide for yourself.
I graduated from Boise State University with a Master of Social Work and have worked in various psychiatric settings ranging from acute crisis respite to secure involuntary hospitalization. Gradually I came to question the institutional attitude of psychiatry and mental health toward persons labeled "mentally ill." I began to recognize the intersection of social and economic oppression with the structure and functions of mental health institutions. I experienced the reality of bigotry and prejudice toward persons with differing lived experiences in the world.
Careful and extensive reading of first hand peer-reviewed research over many years revealed just how little evidence there is to support the notion that mental illness is a literal disease like diabetes or cancer. Evidence for heavy reliance on the use of psychotropic medications was scant, while evidence exposing the limited usefulness and long term dangers of neuroleptics was pervasive.
As I continued my journey in direct practice, I came to morally and rationally oppose coercive treatment as both generally harmful and at odds with the spirit of social work practice. Issues of social control, classism and prejudice are rampant within the rationale that uphold these institutions today. While the lack of willpower and imagination by stakeholders within our present system means that involuntary treatment is sometimes unavoidable, I am personally committed to advocating for a day when not one person is psychiatrically incarcerated against their will for any period of time.
You are not sick. You are not broken. People can and do heal from even the most extreme cognitive and emotional distress. And if and when you look for support from a therapist, please do not settle for one that attempts to present as an expert, who insists you must take drugs forever to be "stable," or refuses to honor your own autonomy. Seek out a partner and an advocate - someone who will listen with love to your story, help you identify all your options when facing choices, and offer advice without interfering with your right to decide for yourself.
Ten Core Beliefs that Inform my Work
ONE: "Mental Illness" is a metaphorical label for the experience of extreme cognitive and emotional distress; labels are tools of differentiation, estrangement and disempowerment.
TWO: The most significant cause of extreme cognitive and emotional distress is frequently unresolved traumatic experiences
THREE: Any "normal" person, given the right set of circumstances, can and will experience extreme cognitive and emotional distress as a normal part of the human range of responses to traumatic internal and external stimuli
FOUR: People can and do fully recover from even the most extreme cognitive and emotional distress
FIVE: Human experiences of extreme states hold meaning and wisdom to be understood by the individual living them.
SIX: Persons experiencing extreme cognitive and emotional distress surrender none of their rights as equal human beings, including the right to make decisions (including "bad" decisions) for themselves, the right to full and informed consent in every dimension of service provision, the right to privacy, the right to freedom of movement and decision making, the right to identify and live by their own chosen values, etc.
SEVEN: Psychotropic medications have limited usefulness and significant risks
EIGHT: Paternalism and pathologizing are the enemies of healing relational partnership.
NINE: Collaborative service provision is an ethical obligation of all practitioners
TEN: The foundation for supportive, healing partnership is a non-coercive non-hierarchical relationship of unconditional positive regard and genuine empathy.
Contact
Andrew L. Yoder, CSWA
alyoder.public@outlook.com
