The FRIENDS program: A peer support group model for individuals with a psychiatric disability

FRIENDS, a psychosocial rehabilitation program for people recovering from p sychiatric disability, utilizes a unique treatment model that establishes a collaborative partnership between professionals and people with mental ill ness. This partnership promotes self-help values, endorses recovery princip les and supports the development of social skills ann healthy interactions, The professional's role Is clearly defined: to support relationship develo pment and the concomitant components of mutuality anti resourcefulness amon g group members, while gradually reducing group reliance on staff leadershi p support, and validation. The long-term goal of this program kr to increas e the capacity of participants to maintain durable social support networks.