Recovery-oriented professionals: Helping relationships in mental health services

Background: Traditionally mental health services have been based on the view that health professionals effect changes within a person with psychiatric problems via a range of treatment methods. Service users have had little opportunity to speak for themselves about their view of professional help or about what supports their recovery process. Aim: Explore helping relationships from the perspective of service recipient experiences. Method: Qualitative study based on interviews with 15 service users with lived experience of severe mental illness. Results: Certain common factors about helpful relationships were identified. Service users valued professionals who conveyed hope, shared power, were available when needed, were open regarding the diversity in what helps, and were willing to stretch the boundaries of what is considered the "professional" role. Conclusions: Recovery-oriented professionals were those who had the courage to deal with the complexities and the individuality of the change process, and were able to use their professional skills and expertise in a collaborative partnership with the service user. A recovery-orientation in professionals also involves the willingness and ability to shape services to the needs and preferences of each individual service user.