So here’s the thing… Over the past few years, I’ve slowly been developing a little porky tyre around my middle that sits on top of my jeans. Now, a clear way to solve this problem is to stop eating so much cake. Alongside this problem-solving approach, sits another approach to problems, to dis-solve, dissolve them. To do this, we have to change the frame in which the problem sits and change our relationship with the problem. So I could reframe my porky tyre as there becoming more of me to love, or perhaps my gift to others; as I display evidence of my own frailties and imperfections, I implicitly invite others to do the same, to show their authentic selves. My porky tyre transforms from ‘fault’ to ‘friend’. Problem dissolved.

Now let’s pan back and look through a wider lens…. During the Covid 19 pandemic many mental health and social care services were withdrawn or reduced as acute physical health was privileged. For some children and families, this change in service provision contributed to an increase in their struggles, with very serious consequences for many, and this is clearly a concern. However, I’d like to focus here on another group, those whose problems diminished in that extraordinary context. In my workplace, we noticed much of this phenomenon in our work with children and families with very complex mental health and social needs.

Might this phenomenon have been due to the suspension of professional problem solving in families’ lives? This is not to criticise professional attempts to help, it is very evident that many professionals work extremely hard to help families to achieve changes. However, perhaps we too often bark up the wrong tree when trying to achieve change. Maybe in the reduction or cessation of problem solving by others, some of the problems that families face can dissolve. Dissolve through having a different focus and being  immersed in other strengths in their lives perhaps. Dissolved by taking the risk of going it alone and discovering it can be ok maybe. Dissolved by being the only one with whom the buck stops and finding the power to rise to this responsibility. And many more possibilities….

So, changes at a macro level can bring about changes at a micro level – who knew we were all existing in an interconnected system of mutual influence eh? When we professionals shift our positon, ripples occur and others are free to change their own position. Let’s hold that realisation close as we go forward together.

Jael 2020