At the risk of dominating the debate further, perhaps the following helps:
1)  What we have here is a set of 'boundary judgements' - these have to do
with both what counts as in and out of community psychology AND who gets
to define this (and appealing to what expertise, authority, experience,
etc).  See http://www.compsy.org.uk/Boundary_critique8904b.pdf  or
http://www.compsy.org.uk/Dublin%20text.PDF for summaries and examples of
boundary critique.  And again I reiterate, without definitions (however
multiple and provisional) of where the boundary lies we can't have the
debate - or worse, we will have it with the boundary judgements and their
basis obscured, opening up the illegitimate use of power in the debate.
2)  It is also about a set of shifts FROM a very individualistic approach
TO a more collectivist one.  That need to shift along this dimension
partly explains the reaction from DF and perhpas others (me at times) to
what might seem like moves back in the other direction.  But the work of
Sue Holland, ELizabeth Lira and perhaps our work on social capability in
learning disability suggests ways of a) balancing both elements and b) a
way of going along the continuum.
3)  This list also picks up a lot of conversation that is perhaps not
strictly about CP as traditionally understood but doesn't have many other
places to happen.  For that reason we do need to be inclusive, to
encourage postings and respond to them in comradely fashion.
4)  Most of the timeI don't really think community psychology exists.  It
is a useful hook to hang a variety of approaches and to build certain
types of alliances.  I prefer to think in terms of a 'really social
psychology' - see
http://www.compsy.org.uk/Towards%20a%20really%20social%20psychology%20-%20Lib%20psy%20chapter%20v1a_d%85.pdf

Mark Burton
(white male, bureaucrat, marxist, lapsed clinical psychologist).



Deborah Chinn wrote:
> This may be a rather rushed and not very well thought out post, as it's
half term and the kids are squabbling as I write (is this why we dont
have an equal number of women posting to the list, Annie?)
>
> I think it is regretable if Richard feels discouraged about continuing
to post.  A number of us have reflected how community psychology is a
loosely defined and developing area within the UK.  I dont know about
Richard's work setting (Adult Mental Health?) but I guess like many of
us on the list he is employed by the NHS to deliver individualised
treatments to 'disturbed' or 'deficient' people. You could do an
interesting discourse analysis on my job description, I'd imagine the
bio-medical model would win out.
>
> This is the context in which I'm trying to promote ways of working which
challenge the individualising and pathologising mainstream; it sometimes
feels like I'm trying to pull a fast one past my managers.  there are
also many challenges for me trying to work out what community psychology
means for people for learning disabilities (though Mark Burton and
Caroline's article is very helpful).  Where is the 'community' for
people with learning disabilities anyhow?  Other learning disabled
people?  Their families and neighbours?
>
> When I first joined the list I think I asked about ideas people had for
actual interventions, especially for those of us working in clinical
psychology settings in the NHS.  I've come across some very exciting and
inspiring work as a result of being on the list.  I know I've got an
awful long way to go to become anything approaching a 'real' community
psychologist!
>
> Deborah

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