Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Vision for Participation: Chapter 1: Recovery

Flashcards related to definitions and key concepts of recovery.

Recovery

A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

Health (as a dimension of recovery)

Overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) or symptoms, and making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being.

Home (as a dimension of recovery)

A stable and safe place to live.

Purpose (as a dimension of recovery)

Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income, and resources to participate in society.

Community (as a dimension of recovery)

Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

Recovery philosophy

Emphasizes hope, empowerment, inclusion, and self-directed participation.

Clinical recovery

Focused on symptom management and pathology.

Slade (2010)

Highlights the difference between recovery from illness (clinical view) and recovery in illness (person-centered view). The latter supports empowerment; the former can promote hopelessness.

Deegan (1988) on recovery

Moving from anguish to a renewed identity.

SAMHSA's four core dimensions of recovery

Health, home, purpose, and community.

Health in a recovery-oriented context

Goes beyond physical wellness to include managing symptoms and making informed choices that promote both physical and emotional well-being.

Wellness

A deliberate, individualized process of making choices that lead to a balanced, satisfying lifestyle across emotional, social, financial, and other domains.

SAMHSA definition of 'home'

Having a stable and safe place to live.

Purpose as a dimension of recovery

Involves engaging in meaningful daily activities such as work, education, caregiving, volunteering, or creative pursuits.

Sustaining Recovery

Daily recovery practices including prayer, meetings, mentorship (sponsor/sponsee relationships), and self-reflection.

SAMHSA (2012) definition of community

Supportive social networks that offer friendship, love, and hope—essential for recovery.

Evidence-Based Intervention – Action over Inertia

Designed for adults with serious mental illness who are disengaged or inactive; uses structured worksheets to help clients identify occupational imbalance, set goals, and increase activity engagement. Shown to reduce time spent inactive and increase meaningful participation.

Occupational therapy (OT)

Promotes recovery by helping individuals build skills for meaningful engagement, such as returning to work or school.

Action over Inertia

Uses structured worksheets to help clients identify occupational imbalance, set goals, and increase activity engagement.

NEW-R program (Nutrition and Exercise for Wellness and Recovery)

Supports healthy lifestyle changes and has been shown to promote weight loss and wellness in people with psychiatric disabilities.

Recovery to Practice (RTP)

Develops training and resources for behavioral health professionals, including OTs.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)

Federally supported programs that require recovery-informed services and practices.

Hope

Recovery emerges from hope. The belief that recovery is real provides the essential and motivating message of a better future that people can and do overcome the internal and external challenges, barriers, and obstacles that confront them. Hope is internalized and can be fostered by peers, families, providers, allies, and others. Hope is the catalyst of the recovery process.

Person-driven

Recovery is person-driven. Self-determination and self-direction are the foundations for recovery as individuals define their own life goals and design their unique path(s) toward those goals. Individuals optimize their autonomy and independence to the greatest extent possible by leading, controlling, and exercising choice over the services and supports that assist their recovery and resilience.

Many pathways

Recovery occurs via many pathways. Individuals are unique with distinct needs, strengths, preferences, goals, culture, and backgrounds—including trauma experience—that affect and determine their pathway(s) to recovery.

Holistic

Recovery is holistic. Recovery encompasses an individual's whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community.

Peer support

Recovery is supported by peers and allies. Mutual support and mutual aid groups, including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills, as well as social learning, play an invaluable role in recovery.

Relational

Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks. An important factor in the recovery process is the presence and involvement of people who believe in the person's ability to recover; who offer hope, support, and encouragement; and who also suggest strategies and resources for change.

Culture

Recovery is culturally based and influenced. Culture and cultural background in all of its diverse representations—including values, traditions, and beliefs-are keys in determining a person's journey and unique pathway to recovery.

Addresses trauma

Recovery is supported by addressing trauma. The experience of trauma is often a precursor to or associated with alcohol and drug use, mental health problems, and related issues.

Strengths/responsibility

Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibilities. Individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources that serve as a foundation of recovery.

Respect

Recovery is based on respect. Community, systems, and societal acceptance and appreciation for people affected by mental health and substance use problems-including protecting their rights and eliminating discrimination-are crucial in achieving recovery.