Trust them taking the lead: A key for independent community participation from the Power of Dependable Souls (PODS) intervention.

Objective: Promoting community integration is a major aim for psychiatric rehabilitation, yet research shows that some consumers suffer from poor quality of life and inadequate community participation. The present study focused on the Power of Dependable Souls intervention that aimed to increase community participation and examined psychiatric rehabilitation professionals' and consumers' experiences to identify factors that contribute to independence in community integration.

Methods: We conducted individual and focus group interviews with psychiatric rehabilitation professionals (n = 6) and consumers (n = 14). Interviewees were asked about their experience of the Power of Dependable Souls intervention and how the intervention differs from other programs. Transcripts were analyzed with Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Results: Four themes were generated: (a) "It's always a hole": Independent community participation is missing in psychiatric rehabilitation practice; (b) "putting the power and freedom into their hands": Giving them chances is a key toward independence; (c) "the hardest thing is to be hands-off": Facilitation for independence may challenge current practice; and (d) "It was a valuable reminder that they are capable of doing things": Possible unconscious provider stigma.

Conclusions and implications for practice: Trusting in consumer abilities and giving them opportunities to pursue activities they desire was identified as a key for increasing independent community participation. Unconscious provider stigma and prejudices may be additional important underlying factors to be addressed to facilitate greater community participation. The Power of Dependable Souls intervention and its approach can possibly offer an important corrective for some psychiatric rehabilitation agencies to fully adopt recovery-oriented care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).