Smith, Penn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7522-4461, Charura, Divine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3509-9392, Joslin, Ben, Law, Henry and Lings, Beth (2026) Exploring Lived Experiences of Mental Health Professionals: Promoting a Trauma‐Informed Existential Rights‐Based Approach to Mental Health Care. MultiPsych, 1 (3).

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Abstract

This article contributes to the growing literature on trauma‐informed approaches that acknowledge the fundamental shift from an enquiry‐based approach of ‘what is wrong with you?’ to asking ‘what happened to you?’ Using a staff‐based participatory approach, supported by photo‐elicitation, duoethnography and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), we explored the lived experiences of staff delivering a person‐centred, rights‐based, recovery approach to mental health care. Data were generated during a two‐day staff workshop with 11 participants who worked within a community‐based organisation in the United Kingdom (UK). Group discussions, supported by participant‐led photography, addressed the research question, “What are the experiences of professionals working for a recovery residential service?”, and provided rich data. Our findings supported the adoption of bio–psycho–social–sexual–spiritual principles within a trauma‐informed existential rights‐based approach to mental health care. In considering challenges experienced by staff in contemporary practice, we have addressed the following challenges: (i) the need for a trauma‐informed approach to mental health care within residential services; (ii) navigating the tensions faced within the community services relating to a person‐centred, rights‐based, recovery approach; and (iii) the importance of attunement to and valuing of authenticity in nurturing relationships. We conclude by offering recommendations for service development, recovery, and growth.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1002/mps2.70014
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/15844

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