An on-line forum for Mental Health workers and service users
4 April 2007
The Strengths Approach: Is it a Recovery Model?
Working with Strengths sometimes requires practitioners adopting a broad definition of recovery, which is not limited to the mere absence of symptoms. Does this make the Strengths Approach the same thing as the User Movement's recovery model?
Recovery has become nothing more than a convenient buzz-phrase being widely used, and abused, across the language of mental health provision. Services are somehow becoming 'recovery teams' and 'recovery centres', with many claiming to work to a 'recovery model'. A very good concept developed by service users runs the risk of being hijacked by service providers.
My understanding is that recovery is a very personalised journey defined for and by each individual. The destination is for the person to determine. However, if you need a reliable means of transport look no further than the 'strengths approach'.
The strengths approach you advocate has proved successful in many fields. When working in therapeutic communities in the early 70s, for example, found that this approach really worked. Of course, it is vital: First, to help people to build on their strengths - where they deliver 'As': Second, to help people to learn how to manage the consequences of their 'Bs' and 'Cs'. This approach has proved really successful in therapy, sports and business. People can find many ideas on this theme in the work of Marcus Buckingham, who wrote, 'Now, discover your strengths' and Martin Seligman, who wrote 'Authentic Happiness'. They can also find lots of tools on this theme at:
http://www.thestrengthsway.com/
Keep up the good work and encouraging people to use the top talents.
Many thanks for the encouraging thoughts. I share your enthusiasm for the work in several publications by Marcus Buckingham, and they help enormously to keep me focused in my thinking. Your website will also be a valuable resource for anyone open to enquire about working with strengths.
The mental health field is an area that could benefit enormously from adopting more strengths thinking. Partly, as you identified from your experience, there is a historical tradition of working with these ideas. Also because 'recovery' has become the concept that so many are latching onto, but still need to look at the means for achieving the ambitions the model attempts to articulate.
I am one of those in service provision land attempting to establish recovery promoting practice in the services in my jurisdiciton. One of the tendencies I am actively resisting is the adoption of a "recovery model". I believe it is important that the recovery journey or process sit wholly with the service user but services should re-orient to assist this process in whatever way they can. Working with Strengths is an approach that has been identified as recovery promoting. For this reason services should adopt a strengths-based approach to assessment and planning with individuals. Other approaches identifed as promoting recovery should also be adopted - some of these may include more traditional treatments and therapies. The key is about offering options and determining what works for the individual. I also believe that the value-base of the organisation and its staff should reflect principles identified as supporting recovery. I am concerned that Recovery has become a buzz word and I am aware, in my organisation, of the misconception that it is something that is addressed down the track - in rehabilitation and by other (non-clinical) services. My message when trying to promote understanding of recovery oriented services is that it is not just what services/approaches you provide but also how they are provided (attitudes, values, environments, choices, participation etc)and this is important from the first contact with acute services right through to rehabilitation, vocational and other programs.
Thanks for the comment above, yes I agree that attitudes and values are extreamly important. Working from a strengths approach is vital to recvery as it addresses the service users perception of what recovery actually means to them.
Agree with Steve m when he says that the 'strengths model' is a reliable means of transport in order to assist a person's attempts to gain a life worth living.
Have promoted and taught the model in New Zealand for over nine years and have yet to find any other approach that so practically enables staff to serve people in a way that ensures their rights, dignity, autonomy, self-definition and ultimate satisfaction.
Using the model across all services in one region of the South Island we were able to see a transformation of perception of role and potential for consumers that significantly reduced a need for hospitalization and resulted in greater community participation, employment and satisfaction with service.
What has been frustrating in other areas of the country is the reluctance to give power to the people of concern and to instead persist with problem focused services that place people in predetermined care packages with predetermined pathways (All chosen by the 'professional').
I am now in Kansas at the University working in the School of Social Welfare under Charlie Rapp. the school is trying to get greater fidelity with the model throughout the state. Studies show that the greater the fidelity the better the outcomes for people we serve. If more programs looked to outcomes as the measure of success rather than relying on a subjective sense of 'we're doing our best' then we might advance mental health care more significantly.
Like you, I to am frustrated by the narrow view many services have in regards to what they can offer service users.
Currently in the UK there is a over valued focus on preventing things from going wrong, to avoid unwanted media attention, and to ensure services continue to get funding. This is all adding up to very risk intolerant, safe, pre-prescribed, and easily defendable interventions. We have seemed to have forgotten that the more immediate risk to a majority of the people we serve is disempowerment, dependency and stigma.
The need for so many service providers to dress up something like recovery as a 'model' seems to me to be an abdication of responsibility for actually doing something about the way services have contributed to restricting service users from thriving and growing. "We're now working to a recovery model..." doesn't necessarily mean that much of anything has changed from when 'we weren't'!
I fully subscribe to the idea of recovery as a journey or as an outcome, as determined by the individual within their own context. Enabling people to set their clear goals, sharing in the unearthing of their abilities and capabilities, and freeing them to be creative in finding their way to achieving the desired outcomes is hard work. It requires us to examine our own values, attitudes and even motives.
Giving up some of our power, so that others may exercise some of their own power can sometimes feel like a risky path to follow; but it can hold some far greater rewards for all involved. Its energising to hear the differences expressed by people who have ventured down this path.
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17 comments:
Recovery has become nothing more than a convenient buzz-phrase being widely used, and abused, across the language of mental health provision. Services are somehow becoming 'recovery teams' and 'recovery centres', with many claiming to work to a 'recovery model'. A very good concept developed by service users runs the risk of being hijacked by service providers.
My understanding is that recovery is a very personalised journey defined for and by each individual. The destination is for the person to determine. However, if you need a reliable means of transport look no further than the 'strengths approach'.
Steve,
The strengths approach you advocate has proved successful in many fields. When working in therapeutic communities in the early 70s, for example, found that this approach really worked. Of course, it is vital: First, to help people to build on their strengths - where they deliver 'As': Second, to help people to learn how to manage the consequences of their 'Bs' and 'Cs'. This approach has proved really successful in therapy, sports and business. People can find many ideas on this theme in the work of Marcus Buckingham, who wrote, 'Now, discover your strengths' and Martin Seligman, who wrote 'Authentic Happiness'. They can also find lots of tools on this theme at:
http://www.thestrengthsway.com/
Keep up the good work and encouraging people to use the top talents.
Mike Pegg
Mike,
Many thanks for the encouraging thoughts. I share your enthusiasm for the work in several publications by Marcus Buckingham, and they help enormously to keep me focused in my thinking. Your website will also be a valuable resource for anyone open to enquire about working with strengths.
The mental health field is an area that could benefit enormously from adopting more strengths thinking. Partly, as you identified from your experience, there is a historical tradition of working with these ideas. Also because 'recovery' has become the concept that so many are latching onto, but still need to look at the means for achieving the ambitions the model attempts to articulate.
Steve M
I am one of those in service provision land attempting to establish recovery promoting practice in the services in my jurisdiciton.
One of the tendencies I am actively resisting is the adoption of a "recovery model". I believe it is important that the recovery journey or process sit wholly with the service user but services should re-orient to assist this process in whatever way they can.
Working with Strengths is an approach that has been identified as recovery promoting. For this reason services should adopt a strengths-based approach to assessment and planning with individuals. Other approaches identifed as promoting recovery should also be adopted - some of these may include more traditional treatments and therapies. The key is about offering options and determining what works for the individual.
I also believe that the value-base of the organisation and its staff should reflect principles identified as supporting recovery.
I am concerned that Recovery has become a buzz word and I am aware, in my organisation, of the misconception that it is something that is addressed down the track - in rehabilitation and by other (non-clinical) services.
My message when trying to promote understanding of recovery oriented services is that it is not just what services/approaches you provide but also how they are provided (attitudes, values, environments, choices, participation etc)and this is important from the first contact with acute services right through to rehabilitation, vocational and other programs.
Thanks for the comment above, yes I agree that attitudes and values are extreamly important. Working from a strengths approach is vital to recvery as it addresses the service users perception of what recovery actually means to them.
Agree with Steve m when he says that the 'strengths model' is a reliable means of transport in order to assist a person's attempts to gain a life worth living.
Have promoted and taught the model in New Zealand for over nine years and have yet to find any other approach that so practically enables staff to serve people in a way that ensures their rights, dignity, autonomy, self-definition and ultimate satisfaction.
Using the model across all services in one region of the South Island we were able to see a transformation of perception of role and potential for consumers that significantly reduced a need for hospitalization and resulted in greater community participation, employment and satisfaction with service.
What has been frustrating in other areas of the country is the reluctance to give power to the people of concern and to instead persist with problem focused services that place people in predetermined care packages with predetermined pathways (All chosen by the 'professional').
I am now in Kansas at the University working in the School of Social Welfare under Charlie Rapp. the school is trying to get greater fidelity with the model throughout the state. Studies show that the greater the fidelity the better the outcomes for people we serve. If more programs looked to outcomes as the measure of success rather than relying on a subjective sense of 'we're doing our best' then we might advance mental health care more significantly.
Paul
Thanks Paul for your comment.
Like you, I to am frustrated by the narrow view many services have in regards to what they can offer service users.
Currently in the UK there is a over valued focus on preventing things from going wrong, to avoid unwanted media attention, and to ensure services continue to get funding. This is all adding up to very risk intolerant, safe, pre-prescribed, and easily defendable interventions. We have seemed to have forgotten that the more immediate risk to a majority of the people we serve is disempowerment, dependency and stigma.
The need for so many service providers to dress up something like recovery as a 'model' seems to me to be an abdication of responsibility for actually doing something about the way services have contributed to restricting service users from thriving and growing. "We're now working to a recovery model..." doesn't necessarily mean that much of anything has changed from when 'we weren't'!
I fully subscribe to the idea of recovery as a journey or as an outcome, as determined by the individual within their own context. Enabling people to set their clear goals, sharing in the unearthing of their abilities and capabilities, and freeing them to be creative in finding their way to achieving the desired outcomes is hard work. It requires us to examine our own values, attitudes and even motives.
Giving up some of our power, so that others may exercise some of their own power can sometimes feel like a risky path to follow; but it can hold some far greater rewards for all involved. Its energising to hear the differences expressed by people who have ventured down this path.
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