Pilot study of a serious board game intervention to facilitate narrative identity reconstruction in mental health recovery.

This quasi-experimental study explores the effects of a narrative coaching board game intervention aimed at enhancing participants' sense of self-mastery as part of facilitating narrative identity reconstruction. Three mixed analyses of variance compared differences between clinical ( = 31) and non-clinical ( = 31) groups over time on a measure of mastery. There were no significant group-by-time interaction effects, but both groups demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in mastery over time.

A Complexity Perspective on Narrative Identity Reconstruction in Mental Health Recovery.

The issue of complex nonlinear change processes is one of the least understood aspects of recovery and one of the most difficult to apply in recovery-oriented health care. The purpose of this article is to explore the recovery stories of 17 mental health peer support workers to understand their narrative identity reconstruction in recovery using a complexity perspective. Using the Life Story Model of Identity (LSMI), a narrative thematic analysis of interviews suggests that self-mastery as part of personal agency is an important component of participants' narrative identity reconstruction.

Narrative Identity Reconstruction as Adaptive Growth During Mental Health Recovery: A Narrative Coaching Boardgame Approach.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to construct a conceptual framework for investigating the reconstruction of narrative identity in mental health recovery from a complexity perspective. This conceptual framework provides the foundation for developing a health boardgame to facilitate narrative identity reconstruction.

Methods: A selective integrative review of the theoretical and empirical literature relevant to narrative identity reconstruction in recovery was conducted.

A cluster-randomised controlled trial of values-based training to promote autonomously held recovery values in mental health workers.

Background: The implementation and use of evidence-based practices is a key priority for recovery-oriented mental health service provision. Training and development programmes for employees continue to be a key method of knowledge and skill development, despite acknowledged difficulties with uptake and maintenance of behaviour change. Self-determination theory suggests that autonomy, or a sense that behaviour is self-generated, is a key motivator to sustained behaviour change, in this case practices in mental health services.

Reflective dialogue in clinical supervision: A pilot study involving collaborative review of supervision videos.

Objective: To pilot an intervention involving reflective dialogue based on video recordings of clinical supervision.

Method: Fourteen participants (seven psychotherapists and their supervisors) completed a reflective practice protocol after viewing a video of their most recent supervision session, then shared their reflections in a second session.

Results: Thematic analysis of individual reflections and feedback resulted in the following dominant themes: (1) Increased discussion of supervisee anxiety and the tensions between autonomy and dependence; (2) intentions to alter supervisory roles and practice; (3) identification of and reflection on parallel process (defined as the dynamic transmission of relationship patterns between therapy and supervision); and (4) a range of perceived impacts including improvements in supervisory alliance.

Evaluation of psychology practitioner competence in clinical supervision.

There is a growing consensus favouring the development, advancement, and implementation of a competency-based approach for psychology training and supervision. There is wide recognition that skills, attitude-values, and relationship competencies are as critical to a psychologist's competence as are knowledge capabilities, and that these key competencies are best measured during placements, leaving the clinical supervisor in an unparalleled position of advantage to provide formative and summative evaluations on the supervisee's progression towards competence. Paradoxically, a compelling body of literature from across disciplines indicates that supervisor ratings of broad domains of competence are systematically compromised by biases, including leniency error and halo effect.

The feasibility of telephone follow-up interviews for monitoring treatment outcomes of Australian residential drug and alcohol treatment programs.

Background: Telephone follow-up interviewing is one method of monitoring treatment outcomes of individuals involved in drug and alcohol treatment programs. The present study is the first to examine the feasibility and generalizability of data obtained from telephone follow-up interviews after drug and alcohol treatment in Australia.

Methods: Participants attended 1 of 8 Salvation Army Recovery Service Centres where staff administered outcome measures at intake.

A comparison of two coaching approaches to enhance implementation of a recovery-oriented service model.

Moving to recovery-oriented service provision in mental health may entail retraining existing staff, as well as training new staff. This represents a substantial burden on organisations, particularly since transfer of training into practice is often poor. Follow-up supervision and/or coaching have been found to improve the implementation and sustainment of new approaches.

Improving implementation of evidence-based practice in mental health service delivery: protocol for a cluster randomised quasi-experimental investigation of staff-focused values interventions.

Background: There is growing acceptance that optimal service provision for individuals with severe and recurrent mental illness requires a complementary focus on medical recovery (i.e., symptom management and general functioning) and personal recovery (i.

Clinical and reliable change in an Australian residential substance use program using the Addiction Severity Index.

Although the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is one of the most frequently used measures in alcohol and other drug research, it has rarely been used to assess clinical and reliable change. This study assessed clients' clinical and reliable change at The Salvation Army residential substance abuse treatment centers in Australia. A total of 296 clients completed ASI interviews on admission to treatment and 3 months after discharge from treatment.

The reconstruction of narrative identity during mental health recovery: a complex adaptive systems perspective.

Objectives: 1) to understand the reconstruction of narrative identity during mental health recovery using a complex adaptive systems perspective, 2) to address the need for alternative approaches that embrace the complexities of health care.

Method: A narrative review of published literature was conducted.

Results: A complex adaptive systems perspective offers a framework and language that can assist individuals to make sense of their experiences and reconstruct their narratives during an often erratic and uncertain life transition.

Relative importance of abstinence in clients' and clinicians' perspectives of recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.

This study collected data on drug and alcohol workers' (n = 55) and clients' (n = 139) perspectives on what constitutes a "recovery" from substance use disorder. Data were collected during 2010 from four residential faith-based treatment programs across the east coast of Australia. Self-report surveys specifically designed for this study were administered.

Effects of supervision modality and intensity on alliance and outcomes for the supervisee.

Objective: Clinical supervision within the health professions is an important quality control mechanism to ensure good client care. The purpose of this study was to assess how supervision structure and process affect supervision outcomes for the supervisee.

Design: A repeated measures within groups and between groups (individual or group supervision) design was used to explore the effects of a 6-month supervision program for staff of public sector drug and alcohol health services.

Recovery in mental health: a movement towards well-being and meaning in contrast to an avoidance of symptoms.

Objective: This paper examines the types of goals being set by individuals in the context of Australian mental health services and whether goal type differs across the stages of recovery.

Methods: Goal records of 144 individuals accessing services were reviewed to examine goal content, ratio of approach and avoidance oriented goals and changes across stages of psychological recovery.

Results: Individuals further along in their recovery set significantly more approach goals and types of goals set appeared to reflect broader life roles.

Change in working alliance and recovery in severe mental illness: an exploratory study.

Background: Consumer-defined recovery from schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other recurring psychotic illnesses ("serious mental illness", "SMI") emphasize re-establishment of a personally meaningful life. The working alliance ("the alliance") is highlighted as important in facilitating recovery, however there is little empirical evidence concerning the relationship between the alliance and recovery in populations with SMI.

Aims: The aim is to explore the relationship between the alliance and recovery over time in a sample with SMI.

Preliminary development and content validity of a measure of Australian Aboriginal cultural engagement.

Objectives: Aboriginal people form one of the populations most in need of mental health and substance abuse services within Australia, although many services are not adequately sensitive to, or inclusive of, relevant aspects of Aboriginal culture in their programmes. The Aboriginal Cultural Engagement Survey (ACES) was developed with the objective of assessing the level of cultural engagement of Aboriginal clients. A measure of cultural engagement is an important step in establishing an association between culture and health benefits, so that future interventions may be designed which better meet the cultural needs of Aboriginal Australians within health services.

Screening for mental disorder comorbidity in Australian alcohol and other drug residential treatment settings.

There has been much international impetus to address the importance of identifying and treating clients experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental disorder in treatment settings. Gaps in the literature still exist after a decade of research into this area. There is little research on the prevalence of co-occurring mental disorders (CODs) in the residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment modality.

The use of metaphor for understanding and managing psychotic experiences: A systematic review.

Background: Subjective experiences of psychotic disorders are often not communicated because of the difficulty in articulating them. Metaphor is a valuable way of describing these experiences to others. Recovery in psychotic disorders involves consolidation and transitioning processes.

Hope and improvements in mental health service providers' recovery attitudes following training.

Background: Service providers' attitudes towards recovery can improve with formal training. However, it is unclear whether improvements depend on dispositional hope.

Aims: To determine whether attitudinal improvements following formal recovery training vary depending on participants' dispositional hope.

Barriers to transfer of collaborative recovery training into Australian mental health services: implications for the development of evidence-based services.

Rationale: Transfer of training (ToT) is defined as the application of competencies acquired during training into the workplace. Poor ToT to clinical practice in mental health settings has negative implications for evidence-based service provision.

Aims And Objectives: This study aimed to explore the variables influencing differences in ToT across mental health settings.

Do spirituality and religiosity help in the management of cravings in substance abuse treatment?

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of spirituality, religiosity and self-efficacy with drug and/or alcohol cravings. A cross-sectional survey was completed by 77 male participants at an Australian Salvation Army residential rehabilitation service in 2007. The survey included questions relating to the participants' drug and/or alcohol use and also measures for spirituality, religiosity, cravings, and self-efficacy.

Mental health consumers' perceptions of receiving recovery-focused services.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: This study examines the experiences of mental health service consumers engaged in various recovery-focused support practices as well as examining consumer valuing of these activities.

Method: A self-report questionnaire was developed drawing on key aspects of the Collaborative Recovery Model (CRM) (responsibility, collaboration, autonomy, motivation, needs, goals, homework). Ninety-two adult consumers from metropolitan, regional and rural non-government organizations and public mental health services in eastern Australian states completed the questionnaire.

Do goal-setting interventions improve the quality of goals in mental health services?

Objective: The use of evidence-based goal-setting principles is thought to improve goal attainment of people with psychiatric disability. Little is known about the frequency or quality of goal setting, and whether training and formalized goal-setting interventions improve goal setting practice. This study examines the impact of the Goal Instrument for Quality as related to the frequency and quality of goal setting.

Is therapist alliance or whole group cohesion more influential in group psychotherapy outcomes?

This study examined the differential ability of early in treatment measures of therapeutic alliance (Working Alliance Inventory), group cohesion (California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale for Group) and group climate (Group Climate Questionnaire) to predict outcome in a 16-session dynamic group psychotherapy for adults with major depression. Six successful therapy groups with 30 patients receiving psychodynamic group therapy were studied. Patient perceptions of the therapist alliance was not related to outcome, however, perceptions of levels of conflict and group members' ability to work actively and purposefully in treatment did predict outcome.

A taxonomy for homework used by mental health case managers when working with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness.

A survey was completed by 122 case managers describing the types of homework assignments commonly used with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI). Homework types were categorized using a 12-item homework description taxonomy and in relation to the 22 domains of the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN). Case managers predominately reported using behaviourally based homework tasks such as scheduling activities and the development of personal hygiene skills.