‘Creating the right therapy vibe’: Relational performances in holistic medicine

This paper explores the relational constitution and performance of environments for holistic medicine. Informed by actor-network theory and the idea of ‘affect’, the findings of a combined observational and interview study of therapists are presented. These suggest how the mediation of care experien...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science & medicine (1982) 2013-04, Vol.83, p.99-109
Main Authors: Andrews, Gavin J., Evans, Joshua, McAlister, Seraphina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actor-network theory
Adult
Affect
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Canada
Conceptualization
Female
Health care
Health Care Services
Health Facility Environment - organization & administration
Holistic Health
Holistic Medicine
Humans
Male
Mediation
Medical sciences
Medicine
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Non-representational theory
Practice environment
Professional-Patient Relations
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Qualitative Research
Relationality
Therapeutics
Therapists
Therapy
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Summary:This paper explores the relational constitution and performance of environments for holistic medicine. Informed by actor-network theory and the idea of ‘affect’, the findings of a combined observational and interview study of therapists are presented. These suggest how the mediation of care experiences involves influxes of humans, objects and ideas – some visualized, some physical, each providing relationalities to other places – that compose assemblages. These assemblages, in certain arrangements involving particular relationalities within them, create changing therapeutic vibes and possibilities. The paper closes by discussing the potential for conceptualizing place relationally beyond the current study across other forms of health care. ► Applies the concepts of relationality and affect to understanding health care practice. ► Extends relational thinking in health geography to micro practice settings. ► Introduces non-representational theory to health geographers through empirical research. ► Further explores geographies of holistic medicine.
ISSN:0277-9536
1873-5347
DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.01.008