“The Value of the Relationship in Recovery”

Gina Verne, MPA, CSW&

John Fossella, PhD, MBA

People are asked to engage -and clinicians are asked to engage people

Recovery does not happen in isolation

Think of someone with whom you have had a positive therapeutic relationship…

What was that person like????

They listened to meThey trusted meThey did not judge meThey did not leave They cared about meThey showed me how to beThey let me make mistakesThey laughed with meThey were excited for my successes

They were supportive with my failures

We only truly grow through our relationships with others….

Carl Rogers (Paraphrased)

Decent food, clothing & housing People with whom to be A way to be productive Learning about how to manage symptoms, Meds. and side effects

Case management & Individualized Tx

Psycho-education Integration into the community

“Someone believed in me”“Someone told me that I had a chance to get better”

“My own persistence”

“It is only as I understand the feelings and thoughts which seem so horrible to you or so weak, or so sentimental, or so bizarre-it is only as I see them as you see them, and accept them and you, that you feel really free to explore all the hidden nooks and frightening crannies of your inner and often buried experiences”

Our memories of that which seems so bad, seems less so if I share it with you and you accept me unconditionally. The memory changes to include this experience of it.

Unconditional Positive Regard

&Being

psychologically/emotionally present

Do not act as something I am not

Listen “acceptantly” to myself

Permit myself to understand another person

Create safety in the relationship-reduce the barriers between others and me so they can reveal themselves more fully

Accept the feelings/attitudes/values of the other person

Be open to the realities/learning in me and the other person, and the urge to “fix it” will be lessened

I learn to listen to youYou learn to listen to

others

I learn to be my true selfYou learn to be your true

self

I learn to accept youYou learn to accept others

I learn to trust youYou learn to trust others

When we see a person as their true self, not an illness or condition or as separate from us in any way,

The relationship can develop into one that is the vehicle for change and growth for us both

“Patch Adams”