Lucy Johnstone, PhD is a marvelous British psychologist on the cutting edge of what’s good in the field. She promotes”psychological formulation,” including the patient’s input, to replace psychiatric diagnosis. Yes, replace it!

The Dr. Peter Breggin Hour - 01/15/14 | PRN.fm

Formulation is the process of making sense of a person’s difficulties in the context of their relationships, social circumstances, life events, and the sense that they have made of them. It is a bit like a personal story or narrative that a psychologist or other professional draws up with an individual and, in some cases, their family and carers.

Formulation ? The Psychological alternative to Diagnosis | Clinical Psychology and People