When treatment supports the life a person is trying to build, engagement and hope may improve.

Finding fit between treatment and what matters most can strengthen a person’s sense of agency.

Rigid health systems can prevent person-directed care.

Even when all the right things are in place for psychiatric treatment, that doesn’t always equal engagement. There can be rapport, an accurate diagnosis, and effective medication, but that still doesn’t mean someone will engage in the treatment plan. That’s because sometimes there’s a mismatch—not of skill but of fit. A mismatch between what’s being offered and the kind of life the person is trying to build.

Research shows that when treatment supports the life a person is trying to build, engagement and hope tend to improve. That’s not rocket science, but in rigid health systems, it’s not always happening.1

Psychologist Patricia Deegan was one of the pioneers of this approach. Her recovery model isn't just person-centred, but person-directed. Instead of fitting people into treatment, treatment is shaped around their lives.

When I talk about fit, I mean questions like:

Do side effects interfere with identity or motivation?

Do appointments compete with meaningful parts of life?

What does that look like in real life?

Is being a proud grandparent compromised because medication causes too much morning sedation to babysit grandkids in the morning?

Is the outpatient group held at the same time as a soccer practice?

Supports what matters most to the........

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