Giving Meaning and Recovery

In the Netherlands, there is currently a major interest in cooperation between all health professionals in primary care and in cooperation between primary care and other sectors (social sector, medical-specialist care and long-term care). (Integral Care Agreement, 2022). Cooperation between professionals from different domains is a means to achieve person-centred care, support and services. Our research focuses on the collaboration between volunteers, (family) experts, social workers, mental health and security professionals.

People give meaning and purpose to their lives through the story they construct (Bohlmeijer et al., 2007). Narrative research focuses on the story (or stories) of the client and their loved ones. This provides an opportunity to hear a person's wants, needs and aspirations in context and in a meaningful perspective. Through their life story, the person talks about the events in their life; the opportunities and strengths they have used in the past and who or what has supported them in doing so. (Engelbertink, 2023).