Dr John Joyce was born in Cork and studied medicine in Dublin and psychiatry in London. He has been a Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley Trust since 2001, working more latterly in the Early Intervention in Psychosis services in Lewisham. Over time he has had a particular interest in the social and psychological dimensions of mental health and how people’s presentations to services and their progress in services are influenced by the formal and informal networks they are part of. He has published research in a number of areas of interest including on medically unexplained syndromes, caregiving experiences and more recently has focused on epidemiological and service issues in connection with first onset of psychosis. Having been inspired by dialogical ideas and practice he is undergoing Open Dialogue training and, along with colleagues in the NHS, is introducing Open Dialogue meetings into local Early Intervention services.