Impact of strengths model training and supervision on the therapeutic practice of Australian mental health clinicians

Abstract

This study explored the impact of Strengths Model training, supervision and mentorship on the practice of a group of multi-disciplinary mental health clinicians that included mental health nurses, social workers, psychologists, and occupational therapists. A qualitative approach that combined critical realism and grounded theory was used. The findings demonstrated how a substantive category, Getting to Know Clients Better, facilitated participants' progression through a basic social psychological process, Becoming a Strengths-Informed Practitioner. This process consisted of a discernible and sustained change towards more personcentred, hopeful, and recovery-oriented practice. The findings also described an underlying generative mechanism for this, the Client Becomes Visible, which accorded with theoretical models of empathy, based on enhanced cognitive processing. The strength-based approach to practice facilitated the establishment of a collaborative relationship and a stronger therapeutic alliance between the client and clinician. The research demonstrated that Strengths Model is an effective vehicle for improving recovery-orientated mental health services.

Exploring mental health consumer experiences of the strengths model of case management: A phenomenological study

“…SMCM generated a more positive view from the case manager that consumers noticed in this study. This was also described in research by Pullman et al (2023) as the client becoming visible to the case manager, supporting them to see the whole person of the consumer, and to have a greater understanding of the life of the consumer and to be more empathetic towards the consumer. In this study, consumers reported that this new, holistic and strengths focused view that case managers now had of them because of SMCM created an improved relationship.…”

“…A study by Roebuck, Latimer, et al (2022) found that high‐fidelity SMCM was associated with a stronger working relationship between case managers and consumers, and that this in turn positively influenced consumer hope, community functioning and quality of life. SMCM has also been found to reinvigorate practice and reduce levels of emotional exhaustion for clinicians (Chopra et al, 2009; Deane et al, 2019; Petrakis et al, 2013; Pullman et al, 2023; Tsoi et al, 2019). More recently, SMCM has been found to improve recovery‐orientated practice in an Australian context (Pullman et al, 2023).…”

“…SMCM has also been found to reinvigorate practice and reduce levels of emotional exhaustion for clinicians (Chopra et al, 2009; Deane et al, 2019; Petrakis et al, 2013; Pullman et al, 2023; Tsoi et al, 2019). More recently, SMCM has been found to improve recovery‐orientated practice in an Australian context (Pullman et al, 2023).…”

Supporting self‐determination in mental health recovery: Strategies employed by occupational therapists

“…A strong structure of recovery‐focussed mentoring and supervision would assist therapists to build the confidence and capacity to embrace positive risk‐taking and support greater self‐determination (Pullman et al, 2023). Participants in this study emphasised the importance of working on themselves by engaging in critical self‐reflection and self‐development.…”