THE BOOK
This is no ordinary textbook, mainly because it tells a story of the relationship between a case manager and a consumer of mental health services over the course of two years. The story proceeds through a series of short stories (or vignettes). Each vignette is accompanied by a reflection that introduces readers to clinical theories and practices without overwhelming them with jargon.
The book draws readers into many dimensions of the evolving relationship in the story. It examines not only the external experiences between the two people but also the internal experiences, where, as you will see, much of the work of case management and mental-health recovery occur. In fact, the book convincingly argues that both the internal and the external influence and complement each other.
(See “Five Reasons to Use This Book”, for more information.)
This is no ordinary textbook, mainly because it tells a story of the relationship between a case manager and a consumer of mental health services over the course of two years. The story proceeds through a series of short stories (or vignettes). Each vignette is accompanied by a reflection that introduces readers to clinical theories and practices without overwhelming them with jargon.
The book draws readers into many dimensions of the evolving relationship in the story. It examines not only the external experiences between the two people but also the internal experiences, where, as you will see, much of the work of case management and mental-health recovery occur. In fact, the book convincingly argues that both the internal and the external influence and complement each other.
(See “Five Reasons to Use This Book”, for more information.)
THE METHOD
At the core of this book is the Relational Case-Management (RCM) method, which teaches case managers the importance of being mindful and, thus, reflective about how they are influencing—positively or negatively—their relationships with consumers. With RCM, case managers are encouraged to ask if their relationships are supporting and promoting recovery. They learn to ask, “What am I doing here?,” and “What does this person want or need?”. They learn to ask which of the four relational activities described in this book are most useful: Do for, Do with, Stand by to support, and Let go/ do for oneself.
See tutorial on the method, Doing For.
At the core of this book is the Relational Case-Management (RCM) method, which teaches case managers the importance of being mindful and, thus, reflective about how they are influencing—positively or negatively—their relationships with consumers. With RCM, case managers are encouraged to ask if their relationships are supporting and promoting recovery. They learn to ask, “What am I doing here?,” and “What does this person want or need?”. They learn to ask which of the four relational activities described in this book are most useful: Do for, Do with, Stand by to support, and Let go/ do for oneself.
See tutorial on the method, Doing For.
A Clinical Complement
The RcM method is not a case-management “model”. Rather, it is a method designed to complement or enhance existing service models and approaches by focusing on the clinical (or relational) aspects of those services. RCM may be used with a number of popular models, including the following:
The RcM method is not a case-management “model”. Rather, it is a method designed to complement or enhance existing service models and approaches by focusing on the clinical (or relational) aspects of those services. RCM may be used with a number of popular models, including the following:
ENDORSEMENTS
"On Being and Having a Case Manager is a valuable book, full of wonderful stories, sensible guidelines, and original ways of relating to people with mental illness. All those who work in the world of mental health will benefit from its thoroughgoing examination of the centrality of relationships in the treatment of people with mental illness, and from its wisdom. This is a wonderfully useful and necessary book.”
Jay Neugeboren, Author of Imagining Robert: My Brother, Madness and Survival and Madness: New Lives for People Living with Mental Illness.
| More Endorsements |
"On Being and Having a Case Manager is a valuable book, full of wonderful stories, sensible guidelines, and original ways of relating to people with mental illness. All those who work in the world of mental health will benefit from its thoroughgoing examination of the centrality of relationships in the treatment of people with mental illness, and from its wisdom. This is a wonderfully useful and necessary book.”
Jay Neugeboren, Author of Imagining Robert: My Brother, Madness and Survival and Madness: New Lives for People Living with Mental Illness.
| More Endorsements |
RcM Random Resources
- Books on Case Management: ((Some New, Some Old, All Good)
- See how Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) uses key ideas from RcM to improve treatment outcomes.
About the Book
On Being and Having a Case Manager
This book is about the importance of the relationship in caring for those with mental illness. Using a case study of Marilyn and her case manager, this book offers a user-friendly "clinical" language for all involved in everyday case management for navigating internal and exetrnal worlds.
Jeffrey Longhofer, Ph.D., LCSW
Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Social Work.
Jerry Floersch, Ph.D., LCSW
Associate Professor, Director, DSW Program, Rutgers School of Social Work.
Paul Kubek, MA
CWRU Center for Evidence-Based Practice.
Michael Hogan, Ph.D.
"It is about how to do 'the right thing right' in mental health." Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health.
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✓Key Concepts in Case Management
- Joel Kanter's Clinical Case Management
- National Association of Social Work Standards on Case Management
- Beth Angell's research on Assertive Community Treatment
- Controversies in Oupatient Committment
- National Association of Peer Specialists
- Law and Mental Health
- Network on Mandated Community Treatment
IN THE NEWS
Marcia Angell Questions DSM and Symptom-
Based Diagnosis