Encouraging Recovery:
New Areas of Care and Practitioner Self-care.
Recovery is a recurring theme throughout life - whether it is recovery from physical trauma, the loss of a loved one, a career set back or mental illness. With the commitment of practitioners like Norine Thompson, the recovery approach to mental illness is gaining understanding and respect - and advancing into new sectors of social care.
A year ago, Norine took on a new challenge by becoming the manager of a shelter for abused women and their children. While clients of the shelter certainly have much to recover from, Norine arrived to discover a model of operation that did not promote recovery. For a year now, she has been gently integrating the recovery approach into their services.
Recovery was not part of Norine's professional vocabulary twelve years ago. She was introduced to the concept by Christine Gayler who was teaching PSR (Psychosocial Rehabilitation Certificate Program) at Humber College. Norine recalls her enthusiasm after hearing Christine speak.. "So many of my personal values were represented in these principles. That someone had organized this approach was a breath of fresh air. I found a place I belonged. A place that I could learn and grow. I benefited greatly from her classes." Norine has continued to benefit from Christine's programs on recovery as well as her retreats and mentoring on practitioner self-care.
Norine quickly integrated recovery into her work whether as a Case Management Supervisor at Toronto North Support Services or president of PSR/RPS Canada, an association dedicated to achieving full community participation of persons with mental health issues. By the time Norine took the position as Manager at the shelter, her commitment to the recovery approach was well engrained and, she soon discovered, in conflict with the organization's policies.
The similarities between recovery from mental illness and an abuse situation are many. In both cases, the individual "is fractured and devastated from their life experience", says Norine. Their major social role must be re-established and self-management skills developed so that the individual may renew their control over life decisions. In each circumstance, there is a need for empowerment.
"When a woman comes into a shelter, she is faced with many guidelines", explains Norine. "Because it is communal living, she has less control over her own life. Some of the guidelines are for safety [reasons] but some are unnecessary. For example, all women have to participate in chores. When I came here the staff assigned chores to the women. Telling them what to do and when is disempowering." Employing the recovery approach, Norine suggested that they make a list of the chores to be done and ask the women to choose. "Giving the women choice gives them power." By making changes like the list and encouraging the staff to see how the movements they make, the things they do and conversations they have affect the women, Norine introduced strategies for recovery to the shelter.
Norine's connection with Christine has continued over the years. She has attended many seminars and workshops delivered by Christine and engaged her to conduct sessions as well. Most recently, she hired Christine to run a full day retreat for the shelter's staff on extreme self-care. "I really enjoyed it and I know the staff enjoyed it but they need so much more. If I had the money I would bring her on as a regular every month", says Norine.
Practitioner self-care is a serious concern for Christine. In her work as a consultant, she encourages mental health practitioners to care for themselves as well as their clients. Over the years, as Christine has mentored Norine professionally, she has always checked in on her personally - asking about her dreams and aspirations, encouraging her and opening doors to new opportunities.
Whether facing the challenge of integrating recovery into the shelter setting or working on educational or research projects, Norine has appreciated Christine's support and guidance. "Christine is not a person I see all the time or talk to every week, but every interaction with her has been valuable. I feel like I am with a kindred spirit. Her gentleness and ability to ask questions that are meaningful, hear what I have to say and really listen is worth its weight in gold."