ABSTRACT
Essential to the development of a positive practice in mental health aftercare is a precise formulation of clients’ needs or a problem definition. Clarity about a statement of needs provides added information about anticipated obstacles to meeting those needs, both at the client and systemic levels. To accomplish this preliminary task, it becomes necessary to create what we refer to as a ‘problem definitional’ level of theory. Problem defining theory mediates between the more global theory of society which establishes a larger context for understanding the broad policy issues and direct implications (for an elaboration of this approach, see Vicente Navarro, ‘Health and the Corporate Society’, Social Policy, Jan/Feb, 1975), and the articulation of practice theory, the task of the next chapter of this book.
