Published: March 2025

Keywords:
Mark Heydon Laurelut, Menu, Meal, Map, Territory, Systemic Therapy, Abstractions, Constructivism, Symbol Systems, Learning Disabilities Services, Critical Theory.

Dr Mark Haydon-Laurelut

Dr Mark Haydon-Laurelut is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Portsmouth and an NHS Systemic Psychotherapist. Mark’s work focuses on critical and systemic approaches to disability, learning disability and Autism. Mark has also worked on primary care mental health and anosmia projects. More recently he has qualified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Further employment and scholarly work include being the external assessor for the MSc Family Therapy, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London and reviewing for professional journals including Metalogos Systemic Therapy Journal https://metalogos-systemic-therapy-journal.eu/

Abstract

‘It is not at all unusual for the theorists of behavioural science to commit errors which are precisely analogous to the error of classifying the name with the thing named—or eating the menu card instead of the dinner—an error of logical typing’.

Bateson (1972:285)

We inhabit a world of abstractions. Menus are not the meal. Maps are not their territories. A world of meaning, of maps. Systemic therapy and practice offer a plethora of ways of bringing forth multiple maps with those who consult with us. This paper returns to this foundational constructivist presupposition of map and territory and suggests it might be worth revisiting now and then.

The paper focuses on exploring moments when we might forget that symbol systems are not the same as the things they symbolise, asks how this might occur and what might be done about it.

My examples are focused on my experiences of working in learning disability services.

Editor

Haydon-Laurelut, M & Jones, V (2023). Ableism and Disablism. Context: The Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, 186.

Books

Jones, V & Haydon-Laurelut, M (2019). Working with People with Learning Disabilities: Systemic Approaches. London, Red Globe Press.

Nunkoosing, K., & Haydon-Laurelut, M. (2013). The relational basis of empowerment. The Need for Roots, 1-43. (Editors: John O'Brien & Simon Duffy) https://citizen-network.org/library/the-relational-basis-of-empowerment.html

Latest publications

• Ramsey, B., Baum., S, Shilling, H., Bodicoat, A., Zujus, A., Cooper, B., Daynes, S., Fuchs, K., Haydon-Laurelut, M., Darbyshire, L., Morris, L., Carrington, L., Bucher, K., Yildiran, H. & Robbins, L. (2024) Who and what supports systemic working in a learning disabilities context? Clinical Psychology Forum. 1, 372, 60-67.

• Stafford, L. D., Nunkoosing, K., Haydon-Laurelut, M., & Fisher, M. (2023). Experiences of living without a sense of smell: Like “Being Behind Glass”. Plos one, 18(10), e0293110.

• Bourlet, G, Fortuna, S, Haydon-Laurelut, M & Viljoen, N (2023) Is this just another word? A conversation about learning disability and ableism. Context: The Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice. 186, 29-32.

• Jones, V. & Haydon-Laurelut, M., 1 Apr 2023, Context: The Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, 186, p. 1-2 2 p.

• Denton, H., Haydon-Laurelut, M., Moss, D., Paterson Foster, A., & Shepherd, J. (2022). Options: conversation in collaboration. In The Palgrave Handbook of Innovative Community and Clinical Psychologies (pp. 159-177). Palgrave Macmillan.

• Powell, J., Jones, V., Luce, K., McElwee, J. & Haydon-Laurelut, M (2021). Covid conversations: horror and hope. Context: The Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, 178, p. 24-28.

Selected Affiliations

Member of the CENTRE FOR INTERACTION, DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-groups/centre-for-interaction-development-and-diversity

Deputy Course Leader MSc Psychology and Learning Disability http://www.port.ac.uk/courses/psychology/msc-psychology-and-learning-disability/

Associate of The Taos Institute https://www.taosinstitute.net/mark-haydon-laurelut

Fellow of the Centre For Welfare Reform http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org

Member of the Critical Autism Network http://www.open.ac.uk/health-and-social-care/research/critical-autism-network/network-members

Member of The Autism research Network (ARN) https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-groups/autism-research-network