This paper uses Foulkes’ theories of the social nature of the individual and Elias’ theories of symbols, power, and ideology to explore how neoliberal ideology manifests in contemporary mental health systems. Using clinical and organizational examples, this paper aims to understand how neoliberalism shapes the professional and patient identities that exist within mental health services in the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK). With an emphasis on contemporary psychiatry and psychology, this paper will highlight the implications of neoliberal ideology in relation to how psychopathology and psychotherapy are perceived, constructed, and clinically implemented. Finally, this paper suggests how group analytic principles may be used to counter neoliberal violence.
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