Skills for Recovery: A Recovery-Oriented Dual Diagnosis Group for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Abstract

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at a high risk for abusing alcohol and illicit substances relative to the general population. This use, even in small quantities, can negatively affect mental and physical health. Group therapy is an evidence-based treatment for individuals dually diagnosed with SMI and a substance abuse disorder. The Skills for Recovery group used a recovery-oriented therapy manual for dual diagnoses and was informed by the International Association for Social Work with Groups'Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups throughout the development and implementation of the group.

Dual diagnosis, social work and the perspective of a social work student

“…A recovery-oriented care model is consistent with the social work code of ethics (Topor et al, 2013). The code of ethics guides the practice of social work to empower individuals to make their own decisions, create hope for reaching goals, provide education on the symptoms of mental illness and the available treatments so consumers and family can be informed and make choices (Topor et al, 2013).…”

“…More recently, a focus on recovery has facilitated a different way of looking at possibilities for people with mental health conditions including dual diagnosis. A recovery perspective promotes individuals improving their health and wellness, living in a way that puts them in charge of their life and facilitates them reaching their ultimate self-defined potential rather than having a focus on diagnoses (Topor et al , 2013). In practice, this means that it does not matter what the diagnoses are but what the person wants to achieve.…”