Recovery

We know that each journey is different and we honor the following 10 principles when helping you develop and navigate your recovery path.

SAMHSA’s 10 Guiding Principles of Recovery

Recovery emerges from hope: In order for recovery to happen, the individual must keep an optimistic/positive attitude that recovery can happen for them as long as they are willing to put the effort in to recover. Hope is internalized and can be fostered by peers, families, providers, allies, and others.

Recovery is person-driven: Self-determination and self-direction are the foundations for recovery as individuals define their own life goals and design their unique path(s) towards those goals. Individuals optimize their independence to the greatest extent possible by leading and controlling choice over the services and supports that assist their recovery and resilience.

Recovery occurs via many pathways: Individuals are unique with different needs, strengths, preferences, goals, culture, and backgrounds. Recovery is built on the multiple capacities, strengths, talents, coping abilities, resources, and inherent value of each individual. In some cases, recovery pathways can be enabled by creating a supportive environment. This is especially true for children, who may not have the legal or developmental capacity to set their own course.

Recovery is holistic: Recovery encompasses an individual’s life; including mind, body, spirit, and community. This includes addressing all of the areas of a person’s life, family, housing, employment, education, clinical treatment/services/ supports for mental disorders and substance use disorders, primary healthcare, dental care, complementary and alternative services, faith, spirituality, creativity, social networks, transportation, and community participation that should be available, integrated, and coordinated.

Recovery is supported by peers and allies: Support from others, including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills play an invaluable role in recovery. Peers encourage and engage other peers and provide each other with a vital sense of belonging, supportive relationships, valued roles, and community. Peer-operated supports and services provide important resources to assist people along their journeys of recovery and wellness. Professionals can also play an important role in the recovery process by providing clinical treatment and other services that support individuals in their chosen recovery paths.

Recovery is supported through relationship and social networks: The presence and involvement of people who believe in the individual’s ability to recover is of the utmost importance. These are the people who offer hope, support, and encouragement; and who also suggest strategies and resources for change. Family members, peers, providers, faith groups, community members, and other allies form vital support networks. Through these relationships, people leave unhealthy and/or unfulfilling life roles behind and engage in new roles that lead to a greater sense of belonging.

Recovery is culturally-based and influenced: Culture and cultural background in all of its diverse representations including values, traditions, and beliefs are keys in determining an individual’s unique pathway to recovery. Services should be culturally sensitive, congruent, and competent, as well as personalized to meet each individual’s unique needs.

Recovery is supported by addressing trauma: The experience of trauma is often a precursor to or associated with alcohol and drug use, mental health problems, and related issues. Services and supports should be trauma-informed to foster safety and trust, as well as promote choice, empowerment, and collaboration.

Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility: Individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources that serve as a foundation for recovery. In addition, individuals have a personal responsibility for their own self-care and journeys of recovery. Families and significant others have responsibilities to support their loved ones, especially for children and youth in recovery. Communities have responsibilities to provide opportunities and resources to address discrimination and to ensure collaboration.

Recovery is based on respect: Community, family, and societal acceptance and appreciation for people affected by mental health and substance use problems, including protecting rights and eliminating discrimination, are crucial in achieving recovery. Self-acceptance, developing a positive and meaningful sense of identity, and regaining belief in one’s self are particularly important.

(SAMSHA is the United States Department of Health’s Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration)