Corecovery: Mental health recovery in a dynamic interplay between humans in a relationship

Abstract

ABSTRACT This account reflects on the topic of recovery as it unfolds in a human relationship. The purpose of the account is to illuminate the recovery process as it takes place in a human relationship and to introduce a concept of corecovery, meaning a process of mutual change in the relationship between a professional and a person with mental health issues for recovery to take place in such a relationship. The writing is based on lived experience, scientific literature related to recovery research, and interpersonal theory and relational therapy. Although the recovery movement must be seen as incompatible with classical psychoanalysis, the account concludes that the interpersonal theory in the work of Harry Stack Sullivan and the essence of the therapeutic relationship as seen by D. W. Winnicott offer some illustrations of central aspects of the recovery process as it takes place between humans in a relationship. An implication is the need for corecovery, meaning a process of change of professionals on a personal and a system level, leaving old ideas and understandings behind, but at the same time grasping insight of human development in some parts of relational therapeutic thinking.