Reflections on ... the recovery paradigm: should occupational therapists be interested?

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND The mental health literature attests to a paradigm shift from an emphasis on treatment towards a focus on fostering recovery. This paradigm emphasizes many constructs familiar to occupational therapists, including quality of life, empowerment, hope, meaningful activities and work. Occupational therapists are not only familiar with these terms, but have addressed recovery-related constructs in both research and practice.

Method And Purpose: Literature on the recovery paradigm, mental health and occupational therapy was reviewed to gain an understanding of this paradigm and its relationship to occupational therapy in mental health.

Result: Core occupational therapy beliefs and assumptions are strikingly similar to those purported to be important to fostering recovery.

Implications: Occupational therapists should consider taking a keen interest in the construct of recovery. By virtue of professional beliefs and assumptions, occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to assume a leadership role in the area of recovery-related research and practice.