Cheryl Gagne, Sc.D.
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Boston University
Presentation Overview
 A few more words about recovery
 The nature of hope
 The skill and magic of inspiring
 Our role and responsibilities to the recovery vision
 Supporting our hopefulness and fueling our recovery
Recovery Vision
 Proposed as a unifying vision for mental health
services over 20 years ago
 Grappling with the meaning of recovery for
individuals, programs, and systems
 Continued discussion about the definition of
recovery
 Much struggle and learning about ourselves, our
programs, and our systems as a result of the
recovery vision - Self-discovery in recovery
Recovery & Hope
 Hope is one of the 10 fundamental components of
recovery (SAMHSA National Consensus Statement, 2004)
 The 3 cornerstones to recovery are hope, willingness
and responsible action or “the urge, the wrestle and
the resurrection” (Deegan, 1988)
Definition of Hope
"Hope is not blind optimism. Its not ignoring the
enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that
stand in our path. Its not sitting on the sidelines or
shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us
that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary,
that something better awaits us if we have the
courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to
fight for it.”
Hope in Mental Health Programs
“I could smell the despair”
Hope Inspiring Programs:
Program Mission
Hope inspiring
programs have a
mission that focuses
on goals and outcomes
for program
participants
Hope Inspiring Programs: Program Values
Hope inspiring values:
 Person-centered,
 Involvement &
partnership
 Choice and options
 Growth potential, and
 Outcome orientation
Inspiring Hope:
The Physical Setting
 Life
 Color
 Warmth
 Comfort
 Gentle lighting
 Private spaces
Inspiring Hope: The Process
 Present/Future orientation
 Attention to hopes and
dreams
 Emphasis on goal setting
 Emphasis on goal
achievement
 Reframing experiences
 Celebrating success
Inspiring Hope: Provider Practices
 Inquiring about hopes and
dreams
 Reframing experiences
 Praising accomplishments
 Setting goals
 Supporting change
 Inspiring hope
Inspiring Hope
Inspiring hope means arousing a sense of positive
purpose in life.
How to inspire:
1. Acknowledge the negative realities
2. Share a balanced perspective
3. Identify personal truths about the positive meaning
of life
Inspire Hope
 Acknowledge the
reality
 Consider the person’s
unique life situation
 Focus on
accomplishments,
strengths and goals
 Share your genuine
self
Inspiring Hope in Ourselves
“Hope is an essential ingredient in Psychiatric
Rehabilitation”
 Hope requires energy
 People require excellent self-
care to increase hopefulness
 Hope is strengthened by your
connection with others who
inspire you
 Hope is supported by your belief
in recovery, tolerance for
uncertainty, persistence, and
your knowledge and use of
rehabilitation techniques
Hope-Inspiring Self-Care
 Empathetic connections to
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people around you
Recognize your own need
for recovery
Enjoy the self-discovery in
recovery
Nurture self and others
And remember: “You can
only give what you get”
Hope and Empathy
 “Empathy is the capacity to think and feel oneself
into the inner life of another person”
Heinz Kohut
 Experiences of empathy –both the giving and
receiving are key to supporting hopefulness in
ourselves
 Isolation and lack of empathetic connection leads
quickly to despair
 Research strongly suggests the critical role
empathy plays in the health and develop of
humans
Recovery, Hope and Empathy
 The Recovery vision reminds us of our
interconnection and interdependence
 We all need to have a “place at the table” and a role
in the solution
 Empathetic connections help us work together and
reduce an “us versus them” reaction
 Empathetic connections remind us that we all have
a responsibility to each other no matter what our
role in the mental health system
Hope-Inspiring Activities
 Connection with self, others,
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higher purpose
Connecting with your
personal mission or goals
Mindfulness practice or prayer
Reading hope-inspiring
literature
Mindful physical activities
Laughter
Planning to Become Inspirational

Gently, lovingly accept
where you are
 Recognize your own
need for recovery
 Make time to inspire
yourself
 Fuel your own
hopefulness for recovery
Becoming an Inspirational Person
 Connect with others who inspire

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
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you
Learn how to set goals with
yourself and with others
Learn the skill of “Inspiring”
Practice extreme self-care
Engage in your own recovery
practices
Create a community of recovery
Supports for a Hope-Inspiring
People
People
Places
Co-workers Office
Supervisors Car
Therapist
Nature trail
Family
Beach
Friends
Coffee
Animal
companions shop
Teachers
Chapel
Spiritual
Library
directors
Things
Cell phone
Computer
Yoga mat
Cup of tea
Pictures
Comfy
clothes
Stress ball
Activities
Deep
breathing
Prayer
Laughter
Walks
Breaks
Lunch
Barak Obama
"Hope is not blind optimism. Its not ignoring the
enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that
stand in our path. Its not sitting on the sidelines or
shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us
that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary,
that something better awaits us if we have the
courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to
fight for it.”