Implementing a mental health program using the recovery model

Recovery-based practice is currently the driving force of treatment for people with severe mental illness. Programs that are designed around the recovery model facilitate cli­ent-centered treatment and function-based goal attainment, such as employment, education, role acquisition, community engagement, and independent living. The concepts that lie at the core of the recovery model align with the principles that guide occupational therapy practice; therefore, it is essential that occupational therapy practitioners play a vital role in implementing and modifying recovery-based programs. This article identifies the role of occupational therapy in implementing recovery-based programs for people with mental illness and introduces the reader to evidence-based practices used in mental health treatment that facilitate the recovery process.