Recovery Model

A change is taking place in mental health care across the United States and the Recovery Model is an important part of this transformation.

What is recovery? In the words of a member of our Consumer and Family Advisory Committee member, "Recovery is the awakening of hopes and dreams. The recovery process involves gaining the knowledge to reclaim one's power and achieve one's desires by learning to make choices that bring strength rather than harm. Recovery involves living a meaningful life with the capacity to love and be loved."

The new Recovery Model centers not only on long and short-term relief from symptoms, but also on social success and accomplishing personal goals. Recovery Model focuses on the consumer learning to be the driving force in his/her own recovery.

The principles of the Recovery Model are:
1. Personal Responsibility We accept responsibility for our wellness.
2. Education We learn all we can about our illness, so we can make good decisions.
3. Self-advocacy We know our rights, believe in ourselves, set our goals, and work to
meet them.
4. Support We need the support of our friends, family and health care professionals in order to succeed.
5. Hope We believe we can get well and stay well.

Guilford Center is using the Recovery Model in an innovative program that helps qualify individuals who have a history of serious mental illness with treatment for future employment as trained Peer Support Specialists. The Peer Support Specialist Training Program was initiated in November 2005. The Guilford Center's first class of students graduated in December.

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