Chamberlin

"Rather than a hierarchical structure in which some participants are clearly in charge of others, true alternatives feature a cooperative and democratic structure. Although there may be divisions of function, they are fluid, and one who takes the helping role at one point may be the one who receives help at another".

Judi Chamberlin

"People who have been patients know from their own experience that warmth and support (when they were available) were helpful and that being thought of and treated as incompetent were not. Even when a person is experiencing distress, he or she can still be helpful to others. A person who is experiencing extreme pain may temporarily need to be only a "taker" rather than a giver, but such situations are often relatively short-lived (although being treated badly--as frequently happens in mental institutions--can prolong them). Being able to reach out to another person--even when one is feeling bad oneself--illustrates to the person in distress that he or she is not incompetent and worthless. Taking part in making decisions, even simple ones, shows a person that he or she does have some control over his or her life and gives that person the confidence to participate in more substantial group decision making in such areas as financial policy and staff hiring.

There are immense practical problems involved in trying to set up Patient-controlled alternative facilities and services. Money is difficult to find. Opposition from professionals, who are accustomed to being in charge and to thinking of patients as incompetent, can be enormous. Ex-patients may be uncertain of their own abilities. In later chapters, I describe some of the alternatives that exist and how their organizers dealt with these difficulties".

Judi Chamberlin