Recovery Model In Mental Health: Principles, Therapeutic Alliances, And Essay.

Essay: Recovery and the Therapeutic Relationship in Mental Health Nursing

Discuss the meaning of recovery in mental healthcare. In your answer, identify three (3) principle tenets of the recovery paradigm and its general implications for practice.

Discuss how and why nurses develop a therapeutic relationship/therapeutic alliance with consumers. Relate the discussion to recovery principles. 

The Concept of Recovery in Mental Health

1. The meaning of Recovery in Mental Health

In mental health, recovery means a definite sense of life, gaining and retaining hope, engaging in a dynamic experience, understanding of one's disabilities and abilities, having purpose in life, social identity and personal autonomy (Clarke et al., 2016). Typically, recovery is a process by which individual with mental illness develop and rebuild new social, personal, environmental and social connections and adjust their goals and perception in life. According to Ashman, Halliday, and Cunnane, (2017 pp.570-577) recovery refers to a process of transformation, self-renewal, and self-discovery. It must be noted that recovery is not tantamount to a cure because the process involves both internal and external conditions experienced by the individual with mental illness.

A recovery process is a significant model in mental health as it provides a holistic view of the condition and it concentrates on the person and not just the symptoms. However, recovery does not automatically suggest a return to premorbid level of functioning. Also, recovery process calls for commitment and optimism from mental health professionals, people with a psychological ailment, the community and social health team because the recovery process is overwhelmingly influenced by attitude and people’s expectations (Davidson, 2016 pp.1091-1097). Therefore, it requires a well-organized structure of support from professionals, family or friends.

The primary goal of the recovery model is to help individuals with distress and mental illness to look beyond existence and mere survival. In addition, it encourages individual with a psychological ailment to set new goals and move forward. Jacob (2015) argued that mentally challenged individuals might not have control over their symptoms, but they can have control over their lives. The traditional concept of imposing limits on mentally ill people should be discouraged as the model is not about getting rid of the condition but foresting their dreams, abilities, and interests. Recovery approach can be a journey of personal growth and life recovery as a psychological ailment experience can provide the prospect for change and discovery of new skills, interests, and values (Jorm, 2015 pp.887-897).  

 Three Principle of Recovery Paradigm and its General Implication for Practice

The principles of recovery in mental health are aimed at ensuring that all psychological health facilities are delivered in a way that best supports the recovery process of individuals with a mental ailment. An essential aspect in the recovery process is the involvement and presence of individuals who offer hope, support, and believes in a person’s ability to recover (Kidd, Kenny, and McKinstry, 2015 pp. 181-193). The paper will explore the principle of Uniqueness of the individual, Real choices, and Attitudes and Rights.

The Process of Recovery and Commitment

The Principle of Uniqueness of the Individual

The principle of uniqueness states that recovery process of each person is different and unique. According to Le et al., (2015) acknowledging the unique nature of individuals with mental illness is crucial because the process provides a holistic view of the condition and it concentrates on the person and not just the symptoms. Typically, recovery as a process is not necessarily about a cure but having opportunities for being a valued member of the society and living a purposeful life. Also, it is essential for people with mental illness to take responsibility for their recovery journey so that their unique strengths and goals are fully recognized. Furthermore, it is critical to acknowledge the fact that recovery outcome is unique and personal for each person with a psychological problem. Therefore, the principle playa a crucial role in mental health as it addresses the needs of mentally challenged individuals differently thus guaranteeing the beneficial outcome (McAndrew et al. 2015 pp.212-220). For example, acknowledging the uniqueness among post-traumatic individuals will empower them to recognize their full potentials and that they are at the center of the care.

The Principle Real choices

The principle of real choices is essential as it supports and empowers individuals with a mental ailment to make their own decisions on how to lead their lives. However, the options need to be explored and be meaningful. Moreover, real choices involve balancing between support and duty of care for a person to live a meaningful life and to take positives risks. Recent studies have shown that there is a growing number of individuals diagnosed with psychological problems. Therefore, there is a need for clinicians and other stakeholders to support and empower the mentally ill people to make the right choices that will have positive impacts on the lives (Perry, and Pescosolido, 2015 116-128). The traditional approach of imposing limits on a mentally challenged individual should be discouraged at all course. Instead, they should be empowered to set new goals. For instance, acknowledging the strength of depressed individuals will support them to build on their strength and help them to take responsibilities for their lives at any given point.

Attitudes and Rights

Typically, the value of attitudes and rights ensures that all psychological health facilities are delivered in a way chains the recovery process as it protects individual’s human rights and citizenship. Also, it is aimed at inculcating hope in a person’s ability and future to live an evocative and healthy life. For example, listening and acting upon the needs of the mentally challenged individuals helps them to look beyond existence and mere survival. In a nutshell, it is essential to empower and support mentally challenge individuals to develop and maintain, recreational, occupational, social and vocational activities that are healthy and meaningful to a person’s life.

The Primary Goal of Recovery Model

How Nurses Develop a Therapeutic Relationship with their Consumers

Therapeutic alliances infer to the relationship between the health care provider and a client. A therapeutic relationship is essential as it will determine the outcome of the entire process of recovery. Moreover, the link is based on respect and reciprocated trust, being sensitive to others, fostering of hope and faith, and helping with an indulgence of a client’s spiritual, physical, and emotional needs through clinician skills and knowledge (Sapouna, and Pamer, 2016 pp. 1-13). It must be noted that effective verbal and non-verbal communication play a critical role in providing care in a manner that a client participates in achieving his or her wellness.  

Respect, trust, effective communication, and honesty are primary principles in establishing an effective therapeutic alliance. The first step how nurses develop a good relationship with their client is through introduction. An introduction is critical in building trust and respect. At this step, it is essential for a nurse to say his or her name, and what he or she does. Also, it is critical to use the name of the client while talking as it will create a rapport between the clinician and the patient.

Moreover, the next important step how healthcare providers establish a good relationship is privacy. For example, when a nurse provides care, there must be privacy as it will make individuals with mental illness to open up on their issues. Also, it is essential to make sure that the clients are safe and their basic needs are met, the principle of attitudes and rights ensures that psychological health facilities are delivered in a way that chains the recovery process as it protects individual’s human rights and citizenship.

Nevertheless, active listening is a necessary approach that nurses use to create a healthy relationship with their clients. It is critical to clearly understand the concerns of a client by reaffirming what the client has verbalized as the value of attitudes and rights states that listening and acting upon the needs of the mentally challenged individuals helps them to look beyond existence and sheer survival. However, it is not advisable to use restating approach to much because the client can perceive that you are not listening. Also, maintaining a professional boundary is significant in the process of establishing a good relationship. According to Townsend, and Morgan, (2017) the nature of boundary varies depending on the life of a client’s culture and beliefs. For example, some patients need more therapeutic touch like hugging while others prefer no touch.

The Principles of Recovery in Mental Health

In mental health, a therapeutic relationship plays a significant role as it ensures that the health needs of an individual are identified and addressed adequately.  Also, the therapeutic relationship is linked with a beneficial mental health outcome. Nurses develop a therapeutic alliance to establish a rapport between them and their clients (Shattell, Starr, and Thomas, 2017 pp. 274-284). In doing so, the mentally challenged individuals will feel accommodated, and they will have the willingness to share their issues. Moreover, it is critical to have a good relationship with your client as it will ensure that the rights and dignity of a client is respected. Lastly, engaging in a therapeutic alliance based on operative communication helps individuals with mental illness to achieve harmony in spirit, body, and mind.

Ashman, M., Halliday, V. and Cunnane, J.G., 2017. Qualitative Investigation of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan in a UK NHS Crisis Care Setting. Issues in mental health nursing, 38(7), pp.570-577.

Clarke, C., Lumbard, D., Sambrook, S. and Kerr, K., 2016. What does recovery mean to a forensic mental health patient? A systematic review and narrative synthesis of the qualitative literature. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 27(1), pp.38-54.

Davidson, L., 2016. The recovery movement: Implications for mental health care and enabling people to participate fully in life. Health Affairs, 35(6), pp.1091-1097.

Jacob, K.S., 2015. Recovery model of mental illness: A complementary approach to psychiatric care. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 37(2), p.117.

Jorm, A.F., 2015. Using the Delphi expert consensus method in mental health research. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49(10), pp.887-897.

Kidd, S., Kenny, A. and McKinstry, C., 2015. The meaning of recovery in a regional mental health service: an action research study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(1), pp.181-192.

Le Boutillier, C., Chevalier, A., Lawrence, V., Leamy, M., Bird, V.J., Macpherson, R., Williams, J. and Slade, M., 2015. Staff understanding of recovery-orientated mental health practice: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. Implementation Science, 10(1), p.87.

McAndrew, S., Chambers, M., Nolan, F., Thomas, B. and Watts, P., 2015. Measuring the evidence: Reviewing the literature of the measurement of therapeutic engagement in acute mental health inpatient wards. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 23(3), pp.212-220.

Perry, B.L. and Pescosolido, B.A., 2015. Social network activation: the role of health discussion partners in recovery from mental illness. Social Science & Medicine, 125, pp.116-128.

Sapouna, L. and Pamer, E., 2016. The transformative potential of the arts in mental health recovery–an Irish research project. Arts & Health, 8(1), pp.1-12.

Shattell, M.M., Starr, S.S. and Thomas, S.P., 2017. ‘Take my hand, help me out’: Mental health service recipients' experience of the therapeutic relationship. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 16(4), pp.274-284.

Townsend, M.C. and Morgan, K.I., 2017. Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. FA Davis.