Dialogical Work in Mental Health and the Open Dialogue Approach
By Dagmar Narusson PhD
Dialogical work in mental health is rooted in the principles of the Open Dialogue (OD) approach, which emerged from systemic and network therapies, need-adapted treatment, and Bakhtin’s concept of dialogism. Contrary to common belief, ‘dialogue’ originally means “understanding through words,” not just conversation between people. OD focuses on meeting the unique needs of individuals and their families through open treatment meetings that draw on the patient’s own psychological resources. While its principles often resonate deeply with practitioners, applying them in practice can be challenging due to contradictions with existing health systems and the need to retrain or “unlearn” established methods. As a practical step, CARe practitioners can gradually incorporate OD principles into their daily work without formal training, a process referred to as dialogical work in mental health.
Dialogical work in mental health and the Open Dialogue approach Download