THE RECOVERY IS REAL WORKSHOP: Learning about recovery ideology and practice

Workshop Participants

Earlier this year at Fellowship Health Resources (FHR) regional office in New Bedford, representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), FHR’s administrative staff, several FHR consumers, and FHR employees participated in a day workshop on recovery principles and practices.

This workshop was designed and is facilitated by Bob Rousseau, a certified Peer Recovery Specialist, working on the New Bedford PACT team. The goal of this workshop is twofold. In the first place, it creates the environment and opportunity for FHR employees from all levels of service (e.g., administrative, clinical, medical, case management, and residential support) to have an informed experience of our common vision and mission to our community members who are psychiatrically challenged. It provides participants with the opportunity to be with persons with lived experience who enrich the workshop by sharing their recovery struggles and successes. Secondly, it educates participants on the five stages of recovery and services rendered at each stage; a brief history of the recovery movement; the five key concepts of mental health education, and an overview of Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP).

Here are what some of the participants had to say about the workshop:

“I felt that the atmosphere was relaxed and helpful, lending to a positive experience. The overview was clear and the facilitator welcomed participants with varying degrees of experience to understand the process of recovery. Usually I find training helpful but boring. This workshop was not only extremely informative, but life-giving for me personally.”  FHR clinician

“This workshop was of great interest and value to me at this time. I especially enjoyed learning about Wellness Recovery Action Planning. The explanation of ‘living in the house of WRAP’ was a great idea to understand how to develop and maintain healthy living in recovery. The sections on the ‘wellness toolbox,’ ‘picture of wellness’ and ‘triggers’ were particularly helpful. I hope that more mental heath professionals from various agencies could participate in this workshop.”  DMH employee

“Format: great mix of lecture vs. audience participation. History of Mental Health Movement: great overview. Pre-conceptual bias: so relevant. Give staff an opportunity for honest self-examination and reflection. Five stages of recovery: extremely concise, clear, and delineated. A superb learning tool. Key concepts: what a powerful exercise. It moved me to tears. WRAP: excellent explanation. House is a brilliant metaphor. This is one of the best workshops that I have attended, and I have been to lots.”  Long-time FHR administrator

“As a person with lived experience, I was both honored to be asked to participate in the workshop and, at the same time, a little bit scared to go. Once the workshop started and we introduced ourselves, my worries melted away. I saw some people I hadn’t seen in a long time and I met some new people, too. I felt like everything I shared was well received. I have done the 12-week WRAP course with Bob at the RLC and it has kept me out of the hospital.”  FHR client

“At work, we do not have a chance to share with each other at this level. The small group work within the workshop really touched me. Everyone could use a WRAP for their own wellness and growth. Loved Bob’s song. Everyone at Fellowship could benefit from this workshop. I feel like I’ve been inspired and renewed.”  FHR residential worker

The Recovery is Real Workshop is endorsed and sponsored by Fellowship Health Resources. FHR CEO, Joe Dziobek, wrote “This is the best workshop that I have ever attended on Recovery.” Bob Rousseau has recently been asked to present this workshop to DMH employees in New Bedford, as well as to state mental health workers in Rhode Island. Bob is planning to take this workshop on the road so that FHR employees in other states can benefit from this experience. To schedule this workshop, or for more information, email Bob, or call him at 774-634-7976