Peer-supported Open Dialogue

The objective of the course is to provide a deeper understanding of the knowledge base for dialogic practices with a focus on user interaction, relatives’ inclusion, improved coordination and holistic thinking. The course will strengthen professionals’ ability to meet higher demands on public employees in both the municipal and specialist health services in relation to helping each user with what he or she might want of assistance and opening up the context of service delivery to include the important people in the user's social networks as a resource and source of support.

Knowledge and understanding The candidate has advanced knowledge in the following themes: • Dialogic practices; open dialogue, reflective processes and network meetings • Mindfulness and the importance of acceptance and compassion in professional practice • The power of peers and the ability to co-create peer-supported services • Relationship skills and its importance to the meeting between the professional, the service user and her/his social network • The importance of language in mental health care The candidate can describe in depth the approach’s epistemological foundation The candidate is able to analyse and interpret critically research and development within the discipline's core areas The candidate can refresh their knowledge and apply knowledge in new ways in practice Competence and skills The candidate can analyse existing theories and methods within dialogical practices and work independently with practical problem solving The candidate can reflect on their own work and adjust this under guidance The candidate can analyse existing theories and methods within dialogical practices and work independently with practical problem solving The candidate can describe their clinical practice and reflect on this in relation to relevant theory The candidate can identify and analyse processes in dialogical practices The candidate may find, critically assess and refer to information and academic material and apply these to structure and formulate scientific reasoning The candidate can identify and reflect on challenging situations in the presence of the user and his / her social network, and act in line with, and with sensitivity to, the situation of others at a pace that maintains their wants and needs General competence The candidate can analyse relevant academic and ethical issues and initiate professional and ethical discussions related to working with families and networks The candidate can apply their knowledge and skills in new areas The candidate can communicate comprehensive independent work both through both written work and oral presentations The candidate can contribute to novel perspectives and innovative processes

The learning methods include lectures, group activities and mindfulness exercises. Learning comes from the mix of the students' own work with the course material, web-based reflexive writing and a one week (five day) intensive residential gathering in Norway. The subject is restricted. There is a limit of max 25 students on the course. The course is primarily for students participating in the Nordic Study Program in Dialogical and Collaborative Approaches to Mental Health and Recovery, but others may apply. If there are too few students, the course will not run.