How can recovery coaching help a participant with a psychosocial disability?

Recovery approaches acknowledge that the effects of mental health conditions and subsequent psychosocial disability may or may not diminish over time. Therefore, it is important recovery coaches have relevant mental health- experience, knowledge, and skills.

Recovery coaching not only helps a participant facilitate and manage their supports and services but will work individually with clients to increase independence, self-esteem, and the confidence to live a contributing life in a way that is meaningful to the individual.

Recovery Coaches understand Individuals will ebb and flow between coping and wellness, and at times of greater unwellness, the needs of the participant may change and include greater support, and more attention to routine, structure, and daily coping.

This is achieved through:

• Maximising the potential of individuals to participate in the community.
• Eliminating service gaps and coordinating and implementing a targeted holistic and collaborative service delivery.
• Developing a plan with measurable goals that is flexible and is regularly evaluated to suit the participants changing circumstances and needs
• Providing a safe space for participants to feel heard with a non-judgemental, person centred and empathetic approach.
• Empowering participants with the tools and strategies that promote independence at home and in the community.
• Emphasising personal responsibility for circumstances, and self-determination toward being able to cope in positive and helpful ways.
• Establishing stabilisation, safety and integration with family, culture and community.
• Coordinating supports to assist and maintain recovery, ongoing community participation and social inclusion.
• Implementing flexible and tailored evidence-informed actions that are aligned with the participants individual goals, personal beliefs and values.
• Facilitating access to specialist support and interventions as needed.
• Fostering clear interagency communications toward a common goal that is focused on the participants indiviudal needs, and circumstances.
• Establishing positive rapport and relationships with local networks and service providers.

It is important to understand, recovery coaches do not replace the services of a professional health provider such as a psychologist or occupational therapist. Rather, a qualified and experienced recovery coach can work alongside your allied health team and wider network of supports to enhance recovery outcomes. With the current mental health crisis and shortage in accessible services, this is a great option. Recovery Coaches can help you mitigate risk of potential relapse and manage symptoms while helping you remain linked in and connected to services within your community.

Self Identity and Self Concept

Recovery of self-identity and self-concept is an important part of the recovery journey that reflect the person-centred approach to recovery. A recovery coach acknowledges the importance of self, which continues despite illness.

A recovery coach should encourage the strengths, values and hopes of the person in recovery throughout their journey. They play an important role as a primary point of contact especially through more intense periods of change and unwellness.

Our recovery coaches work with participants to re-establish an optimal state of personal, social and emotional wellbeing, as defined by each individual, whilst living with or recovering from a psychosocial disability and/or mental health condition. To learn more about how we can help, get started here.

Sources:
www.cesphn.org.au
www.ndis.gov.au/people-disability