Empowerment: a step towards the (r)evolution of recovery

Abstract

We are witnessing a revolution in the field of mental health in France. The notions of recovery, empowerment and social inclusion drive us to transform our care practices. New care and support schemes are being devised throughout the entire French territory. In France, however, the concrete application of empowerment in the field is rather slow, as the notion’s theoretical complexity and promotion are significant moot points. In this article, we aim to address these French difficulties in order to suggest means of implementing empowerment-centered support methodologies. We demonstrate how this notion is correlated with other theoretical movements and how it overlaps with new notions with the aim of leading an ethical reflection. We also illustrate our reflection with clinical observations from the Un chez soi d’abord (equivalent of the US Housing First scheme) scheme. Keywords: Empowerment, Recovery, Housing First, Support, Ethics, Humanism