It Must Be Based On Trust

Trust is the key
to creating an environment that
promotes recovery.

Where there is honesty and trust, there are strong, healthy, therapeutic relationships.

Most of us who have participated in this dialogue have stated repeatedly that

trust, and

listening

are the most helpful forms of "treatment" that exist in supporting -- the recovery process.

By listening more intently, a professional can begin to more comfortably trust a consumer's perspective, and let go of the controlled responses that have been infused into some modes of treatment.

We agree that coercion and fear have been barriers to trusting mental health providers.   Relationships based on trust and equality would drastically eliminate this as an issue.

We consistently witness the power of the absence of fear and coercion in many of our self-help groups.

Self-Help groups
foster an environment of hope because

1. we see each other as "equal people", and

2. we interact in

a. healthy,
b. healing,
c. supportive, and
d. trusting environments.

It is not always that way within the professional community. Many of us have experienced some providers who come across as

▪ stale,
▪ clinical,
▪ sterile, and
▪ boundary-restricted.

We want to develop relationships with providers that foster

◊ environments of equality, and

◊ informed choice within the mental health services that we choose to utilize.

Specifically, our goal is to have the provider--

● discuss the pros and cons of every treatment option

● in relation to the individual, and

● not focus primarily on our diagnosis.

We ask that professionals recognize our expertise, because we live it every day.

▪ Open communication,
▪ honesty,
▪ clear expectations, and
▪ active listening

are essential tools in the development of a relationship built on trust.

For a
therapeutic relationship
to exist,
there must be
mutual respect.

Unfortunately, many of us have examples of how such trusting relationships are not occurring.

please continue to

"It Must Be Based On Trust"

The White Paper
rule # 6

page 2

to Rule # 6, page 2