Using Appreciative Inquiry to Facilitate Implementation of the Recovery Model in Mental Health Agencies

Abstract

This article describes an organizational development tool called appreciative inquiry (AI) and its use in mental health to aid agencies implementing recovery model services. AI is a discursive tool with the power to shift dominant organizational cultures. Its philosophical underpinnings emphasize values consistent with recovery: community, empowerment, and positive focus. Recent research in the field of mental health demonstrates the salience of organizational cultural context in affecting new service adoption. This article explores how AI could be helpful in shifting an organization's culture to render it compatible with recovery through descriptions of two mental health centers' use of the tool. The experiences described indicate that AI, if used consistently, empowers staff. The article concludes with consideration of the implications of this empowerment for recovery model implementation and directions for future research.

User-involvement/oriented Care Models and Substance Use Disorder Care: Review of the Literature

“…Historically, SUD care has not been recovery oriented. Instead, it has been symptom focused using a medical model for intervention [32,64]. Although Laudet and Humphreys discuss recovery in the context of support services as part of a comprehensive, person-centred approach to SUD care, they advocate for all care to be recovery-oriented, which began with Duncan, Miller and colleagues.…”

“…The literature also represents other recovery model proponents, those who support the patient-centredness of recovery model approaches for all mental illnesses including SUDs, primarily for its comprehensiveness and view of supporting the whole person [64][65][66][67]. Clossey and Mehnert make recommendations for agencies to use to overcome barriers to implementation of recovery model care [63].…”

Recovery as a Model of Care? Insights from an Australian Case Study

“…For example, while many commentators use the term in relation to their research (e.g., Caldwell, Sclafani, Swarbrick, & Piren, 2010;Clossey, Mehnert, & Silva, 2011), the framework, theoretical basis, standards, design, evidencebased practices, and outcome measures that define the models of health care they investigate are not explained. Certainly, it would seem that some researchers are evaluating particular aspects of a model of health care or service model-for example, coaching practitioners to be more recovery-oriented in their practice (Deane et al, 2013).…”

Using Appreciative Inquiry During Care Transitions

“…16 Appreciative inquiry was used by health care professionals for adapting and improving professional practice environments. [17][18][19] No reports were found, however, that used AI as strategy to enhance patients' health. Building on our previous work, AI coaching seemed a natural fit to build positive behaviors postdischarge.…”