ABSTRACT
The cultures and structures of mental health services shape a clinician's interaction with patients. Stigma, taboos, demands, and pressures influence the decisions of clinicians and can create disrespectful attitudes that counteract narrative ethics and collaborative practices. Different stories in this chapter describe dealing with the stigma of psychiatry and how to meet “difficult” parents. Psychiatric illnesses are different from physical illnesses. Psychiatric illnesses try to make us distrust each other, but mutual trust is possible. We commit ourselves to always speak as if the family is listening to what we are saying. When we behave respectfully, our respect for the person we meet increases. Doctors learn to do quick evaluations, diagnose, and act to save lives. But an ideal of making fast solid judgments in psychiatry can cause havoc. In psychiatry, the ideals of co-research and sharing responsibility and power among patients and health professionals provide our best guidance. Collaboration requires respect and trust and experiencing being respected and trusted.
