20 commandments 2: Thou shalt increase the well-being, opportunities and happiness of your client

Once we accept that mental health recovery is possible we realise that this can only be achieved by helping those we work with to develop coping skills and strategies to overcome their problems. The process of development is the same for all of us. It makes no difference whether the individual has mental health difficulties or not.

In every case development involves the opportunity to develop in the real world whilst retaining a sense of well-being that inspires the confidence to continue along the journey toward recovery.

This journey is easier to deal with (and significantly less arduous) if the individual is able to remain happy or at least content with their development, progress and circumstances.

So mental health workers are well advised to develop skills around cognitive reframing. If our sense of happiness and well-being is influenced as much by our thoughts as it is by any other factor then we need to understand how to help people choose helpful thoughts over unhelpful ones. Workers also need the clear understanding that happiness is achieved by involving oneself in a project that takes attention away from the person’s problems and focuses instead upon a worthwhile goal.

We must work to enhance the individual’s sense of well-being, of contentment. We must help them to learn how to become involved in and happy with the emotional work (and the emotional journey) they undertake. Then we become far more likely to be effective facilitators of mental health recovery.

Based on the work of ‘Margreeth H.’    

www.20commandments.blogspot.com