Recovery-oriented psychotherapy: Practical recommendations for psychologists in organized care settings

Psychol Serv. 2023 Nov;20(4):918-928. doi: 10.1037/ser0000694. Epub 2022 Jul 18.

Abstract

The concept of recovery has become an increasingly common framework for organizing mental health care, thus many psychologists find themselves working in settings that espouse a recovery orientation to service delivery. However, the concepts of recovery and recovery-oriented services are complex and have many definitions and psychologists struggle to know whether or not the psychotherapy they provide is aligned with recovery-oriented care. This article provides practical recommendations on how to integrate recovery into the common processes of psychotherapy that cut across all theoretical orientations or particular treatment approaches. Specifically, this article details the process of building a therapeutic bond, conceptualizing a client's problems and goals, implementing a treatment plan, and discharge planning, all from a recovery-oriented perspective. A case demonstration and analysis is presented to illustrate the recovery-oriented psychotherapy process described in this article. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders* / psychology
  • Mental Disorders* / therapy
  • Psychotherapy