Peer Support Statement From The Group Meeting's Perspective

One incident in where I notice supportive group communication climate was when Olivia, Amanda, Nick and Fin needed to find Vicki. Once they found her they realized she was being pimped and they collaborated in how they were going to get Tre, the pimp. The way that this affected the group during its communication decision-making was by being able to effectively communicate and effectively come up with solution to their problem. On the other hand, one incident where I notice defensive group communication climate was when Fin and the other detectives were trying to interrogate Tre and Vicki. Tre and Vicki were both not having a open communication and most definitely not trusting no one. The way that this affected the group during its communication

First, the recovery model prioritizes individual life goals, which are developed by the person seeking treatment, not the provider. On the other hand, the medical model is focused narrowly on treatment goals which are developed by the provider or treatment team. The recovery model encourages high goal-setting. They facilitate hope through providing resources and education, and help to develop steps to achieve personal goals, whereas the medical model has low expectations of the client and does not facilitate positive outcomes that will increase one’s quality of life. While the recovery model is holistic and sensitive to the issues that encompass stigma, the medical model is reductionistic and identifies individuals by their illness. The recovery model is strengths based, which is focused on improving self-efficacy, whereas the medical model is focused on symptom management; the overall goal is to reduce symptoms and stabilize the client. The recovery model recognizes that relapse does exist, whereas the client would be considered non-compliant if treated under the medical model. The medical model is focused on systematic processes, undervalues the therapeutic relationship, and is less focused on the individual. With the recovery model, providers understand the importance of a strong therapeutic relationship and encourage clients’ self-direction and right to make decisions regarding treatment. Recovery based therapy values the impact that hope and empowerment can have on individual treatment. The provider maintains a facilitator role with the client, which helps to encourage and foster positive change. With the medical model, providers control all aspects of treatment and client involvement is not as stable as it may be in recovery based treatment. (National Association for Social Workers West Virginia,

When we put recovery into action it means we want to focus on care that supports people who have experienced mental health problems and how

I am planning a mutual aid group for individuals who are suffering from depression and PTSD in order to decrease the risks of suicide. There will be no restrictions on gender, ethnicity, and religion background, however, the participants must be 18

Contemporary mental health care is a changing and developing field. Traditional practices of understanding and caring for those with mental illness are being challenged (Trenoweth, 2017). Personal recovery is not a new concept. Although it is significantly different to the biomedical model, it has been well written about in literature, putting a significant influence on policies and the delivery of care within today’s practices. When people with a lived experience of mental illness started to challenge the biomedical model of care, recovery orientated health care began to grow (Barkway, 2013). Before further exploring both personal recovery and the biomedical approach, we will look at what recovery is. Slade (2009) outlines a two part definition

It echoes the fact that it is ok to seek medical help when things don’t feel right your head or body. It emphasizes that we aim to improve the lives of the people we serve by providing exceptional health and human service to meet all their needs. Also, they seek to improve the community’s understanding of mental illness; provide education and opportunities for individuals on how they can identify the early signs of mental illness and the necessary steps they can take to get the right treatment they

My experience in mental health clinical was very different from any other clinical I had before. In a mental health clinical setting, I am not only treating client’s mental illnesses, I am also treating their medical problems such as COPD, diabetes, chronic renal failure, etc. Therefore, it is important to prepare for the unexpected events. In this mental health clinical, I learned that the importance of checking on my clients and making sure that they are doing fine by performing a quick head-to toes assessment at the beginning of my shift. I had also learned that client’s mental health illness had a huge impact on their current medical illness.

I would share this information the licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) a part of the client’s treatment team. I am going to assume my client has schizophrenia because that was the majority diagnosis of this intervention. In this case I would share with the LCPC the significant increases in self-esteem and self-efficacy that the outdoor adventure program yielded. The LCPC can use this information about increased self-esteem to apply it to more challenging interventions to build on the client’s heightened self-esteem. I would also share profound findings that the program decreases feelings of anxiety and depression along with increases in trust and cooperation skills for the client. An LCPC’s role in a mental health setting working with a client who has schizophrenia is usually working on reality orientation, coping or stressing management, emotional regulation, along with many other areas of functioning. Because of these many

Mental and emotional health can have interpersonal, and social impacts; I want to provide evidenced-based mental, emotional and behavioral health interventions within the context of families, communities and larger systems, to children and adolescents. My goal as a licensed counselor will be to develop a collaborative relationship where each client feels empowered to act as an expert in developing effective coping skills, manage anxiety, depression, navigate difficult life transitions, and enhance communication skills and relationships. Reflective practice and self-evaluation will be an integral part of my practice. This also means being able to set my experiences, values, privilege, beliefs and biases aside during counseling sessions and allowing the clients goals and needs to take precedence. In order to be well-rounded in my profession, my day-to-day functions will include, assessments, psychological testing, counseling, personality testing, teaching, treatment plans, referrals, coordinate services, case-management, client-family- community education, documentation,

In the grief support group I co-lead with a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and supervised by a Master of Social Work I learned how to facilitate a meeting. The LPCC taught me the person-centered approach and the social worker taught me to monitor client’s progression of goals. She allowed me to take lead, to link members together by similarities they share, and to give members homework. The LPCC believed in self-disclosure, she demonstrated this for me in a fantastic manner the social worker I was with did as well. Teaching me that it is great to self-disclose when appropriate and when it will benefit the progression of the group or for them to feel comfortable trusting the leader. In my group sessions I did not deem self-disclosure appropriate to use. How I will translate this is to be aware of my clients, to ask them what goals they hope to achieve, and for them to keep journals of progress. I will create a safe atmosphere for clients to speak, provide affirmation, and help clients set and maintain goals.

Research suggests that recovery is nurtured by positive relationships. These relationships encapsulate those with friends, family, service providers and connections with their personal community and culture. Such connections support individuals in becoming more than their “mental illness” identity. Important in fostering these connections are concepts of treating people with dignity, compassion and understanding.

The type of group approach I would propose for this population is a support group. Support groups are an important part of the approach used in helping the bereaved suffering from grief and loss. An important goal of the support group is to use mutual aid to help participants understand and accept themselves as they are (Raby,R 2010). . Mutual aid is sometimes used in a support group to help participants share resources for mutual benefit. Understanding and acceptance are the first steps towards self-help in a group.

I learned two significant things about group counseling in this course. The first thing that I learned is the importance of setting up a treatment plan. The intention is to follow the client from their entrance into the program until the client is discharged. In this process the clients’ problems are identified through various assessments and as each problem is addressed, it is checked off of the list. Once all of the problems are checked off of the list, the client is considered as having completed the plan. This plan is especially important because it evokes thoughtful conversation between the client and the counselor and is the best method to gain information from the client regarding the help they want to receive. The second most significant thing that I learned about group counseling is how to design a group from start to finish. From pre group design, planning the goals of the group and determining the members to setting up the environment and structuring the sessions, each step adds its own important components to designing group counseling.

Psychosocial rehabilitation has its theoretical roots in evolving a failed effort, by the mental health system, to help mentally ill patients in coping with the psychosocial devastation brought on by severe mental illness and behavioural problems (Correctional Services Canada, 2013). The traditional methods of treatment viewed recovery as a process of curing an illness, usually with medication, but recovery does not subsequently occur once their illness is “treated” (CSC, 2013). This traditional method was ineffective because their recovery was halted by limited support and skills and ‘abnormal’ behaviours learned in institutions (CSC, 2013). These deficits resulted in chronic impairments and maladaptive social functioning (CSC, 2013). These individuals were unable to fulfill normal social roles and successfully live independently in the community (CSC, 2013). The PSR approach to recovery incorporates more than just eliminating the signs and symptoms of the illness, is based on understanding the patients voice and experiences and encouraging participation and self-determination in treatment (CSC, 2013). This approach recognises the care values such as hope, empowerment, and determination are essential to recovery (CSC, 2013). The importance of skill development and community support are also highlighted (CSC, 2013).

16) that is framed by the principles of hope, personal growth, optimism, and autonomy. Essentially, this means that people can look forward to the future whilst enjoying the present by making their own choices and being supported to do so (Meehan et al., 2007, p. 179). The training of social and coping skills is also fundamental to the principles of recovery (Chang & Johnson, 2014, p. 259). Recovery cannot be ‘done’ to someone, as this closely resembles the biomedical approach. Rather, life recovery is about providing someone the means to promote growth by personal development and change by discovery (Collier, 2010, p. 16, p. 20). Person centred recovery enables the person to reach full potential and live a meaningful life in the community (Hungerford, 2014, p. 157). For a mental health service to be recovery orientated, there must be goal setting, promoting self-fulfillment and an understanding of the importance of life’s journey rather than the outcome (Meehan, 2007, p. 177, p. 179). Cure from schizophrenia is not possible. Therefore, it is a continuation of re-evaluating and managing triggers (Chang & Johnson, 2014, p.