Depending on where your organisation started from, "client" could be a step
forward.
I work in a University, so "client" or "customer" (same thing really, with
additional commercial connotations), is a step forward from the public
service type of mentality that recognised no relationship with the students
at all, but is a huge step backwards from the conception of "student" which
anyone on this list would aspire to. I make a point of unceasingly
campaigning against the conception of "student as client" in my work.
Instead it is a conception of collaborators in learning.
Actually, you could relate to the people trying to "rehabilitate"
themselves as collaborators too. I mean, they have to do it, you can't do
it for them! You and the "patient" have to collaborate in them getting back
to being well. Sometimes, the reality of the relationship is just so far
away from genuine collaboration, that it would be absurd to refuse to use
the word client, ... but one should always strive to overcome the
client-service provider relationship.
Andy
At 01:35 PM 7/09/2001 +0000, you wrote:
>Phil and Eric,
>
>I am curious about tis exchange about the word "client." I used to work
>in a group home that used what they called the "psychosocial
>rehabilitation" model of service, which they set in opposition to the
>prevailing medical model, where doctors deliver services to passive
>patients. So for that reason they (well, we, I suppose) used the word
>"client" to imply a more active role on the part of the person seeking,
>rather than receiving, service. This is my paraphrase of what I remember
>as their paradigm, my actual experience did not in many ways reflect this
>philosophy. The actual practices to me seemed abusive, but definitely the
>terminology and the stated philosophy seemed progressive.
>
>Anyway, my question is, Phil, why are you uncomfortable with the word
>"client"? This sentence should be read as simply a request and not a
>challenge, because I have no deep loving relationship with the word
>myself, I simply grew used to it and see it as a better alternative to
>"patient," given the context I explained above.
>
>And Eric, why do you vehemently defend this word? Again, I have been out
>of the "mental health" system for a long time, and I was only a case
>worker when I was in it, so please read this as a genuine question and not
>a challenge.
>
>Renee Hayes
>
>
>
> >In a message dated 9/6/2001 8:57:53 AM Central Daylight Time,
> >phil.graham@mailbox.uq.edu.au writes:
> >
> >
> > > By the way, I think the terminology of "client" is very unhelpful and
> quite
> > > likely damaging. But that is another long argument for another day.
> Words
> > > matter.
> > >
> >
> >For those who receive monetary rewards based on word output, of course they
> >matter. For those of us who need to relay concrete messages to individuals
> >who have few contacts with the commonly understood concept of reality it is
> >more important that we are understood by them then be viewed as
> 'politically
> >correct' by those who drive the "word marketplace".
> >
> >eric
>
>
>----------
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