This book has been written as a practical guide for public health professionals who
want to help their clients to gain power. Public health always entails some power
differential and in this book this is described in regard to the relationship between
Practitioners and their clients. I have used the term ‘Practitioners’ to describe
the range of public health professionals, who in their everyday work, have an
opportunity to help to empower individuals, groups and communities. I have used
the term ‘clients’ to describe the range of people who act as the recipients of the
information, resources and services that are delivered by the Practitioners to
promote their health.
To exercise choice is the simplest form of power. To the extent that our personal
choices can constrain those of others, power becomes an exercise of control. People
with the ability to control decisions at the political and economic levels, for example,
condition and constrain the ability of people to exercise choice at the individual and
group levels. People have power-over others and are constrained and influenced by
those that have power-over themselves and this can result in inequalities in people’s
lives, including their health. To better understand how power can be exercised in a
positive manner, by sharing it with others in a professional context, this book discusses the ways in which Practitioners can help individual clients, groups and communities to gain more control over the influences on their lives and health.