As part of Cygnet Hopsital Bierley’s comprehensive DBT programme, the Recovery Focus Group was developed to increase motivation, and encourage the generalisation of DBT skills to real life recovery. The group involved hearing about lived experiences of recovery and overcoming adversity. Service users watched online videos such as TED talks, and read blogs or articles by experts by experience.
Discussions were facilitated by a psychologist and the groups responses and reflections were written down. At the end of the 12 weeks, the group made a scrapbook based on their responses to the videos and blogs, and their own reflections on DBT and the recovery process. The development of the scrapbook was filmed and made into a short animated film which can be viewed below.
Excitingly, the project was shortlisted for The National Service User Awards 2017 in the category of Breaking Down Barriers: Tackling Stigma. It was also shared at the recent Cygnet conference on Stigma in Mental Health, and received very positive feedback. It is hoped this work will be shared far and wide to inspire others on their journey to recovery.