Principles Underlying the Birch Recovery Philosophy
We place the individual at the center of the treatment and recovery process, forming an equal partnership that will enable men and women with serious and persistent mental illnesses to:
- Experience a sense of dignity.
- Be aware of their strengths.
- Develop self-awareness and insight.
- Express and pursue their dreams.
- Enjoy the freedom of making choices.
- Be free to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them.
- Know that they are worthy members of the human community.
Recovery Environment
Some time ago, our founder set out a group of “intentions” that guide every decision we make and every interaction we have with our members. We live by these intentions every day. They are the backbone of our commitment to the recovery process:
In everything we do, we intend
- To be kind.
- To inspire hope.
- To respect and befriend men and women overwhelmed by life.
- To bring a measure of joy into every life we touch.
- To do no harm.
- To offer ourselves without discrimination.
- To serve with patience, persistence and forgiveness, not regarding symptoms of illness as evidence of failure.
- To create an environment in which dreams are born, encouraged and pursued.
- To be a beginning, not an end.
