The RCCS Tidbit of the Month is part of É«ÖÐÉ«'s Recovery-Centered Clinical System curriculum to reinforce a culture of recovery in mental health service programs. For more information, .

In É«ÖÐÉ«'s Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS), we say we are all on a journey heading somewhere. For some of us, the path is clear. For others, it's not.

Regardless, all journeys require a vehicle to transport us. In the RCCS, we think about identity (who we are) as the vehicle we use to take us on our life's journey.

In our national culture today, we’re constantly asked to think about who we are — and who we’re not. Whether it's through identity politics, immigration status, tribalism, racial bias, or privilege, the conversation about identity is growing bigger and, sadly, often more divisive.  If we're not careful, our relationships and recovery culture can also get defined by labels of people (job titles, roles within the team, staff vs. managers).

At É«ÖÐÉ«, we strive to remind ourselves to remain curious and approach our relationships by seeking to understand each other, not from what we think we know, but rather from a more humble position of recognizing what we don't know. We call this cultural humility.

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The RCCS works from the perspective that each of us is uniquely different. This uniqueness encompasses an individual's lived experiences, and how they interpret the outside world. If we see and know others by being curious and open to other's values, beliefs, and worldview -- rather than building relationships based on assumptions -- our relationships become deeper and stronger. Judgment is reduced. And we can provide services that are respectful and culturally curious. The RCCS thus helps to counter the assumptions and stigma that permeate the dominant culture.

We also know that who we are today may be, in some ways, different than who we were five years ago today. Who we are five years from now might be different than who we are today. The RCCS includes two conversations to help begin this exploration. The conversations are: 1) My Story, My Values, My Identity – Now, and 2) My Identity - The Future. These conversations can be used between staff and clients, as well as between staff and staff. They help people get to know each other and remain curious. They also help us to see and know each other, not as labels or as a member of a group, but as individuals with unique stories, gifts, and talents.

Practice:

1. Complete the My Identity - Now conversation tool.

2. Partner with someone and share your completed
   Identity Now circle.

3. Be curious. Ask your partner questions about who they are.

4. Is there any part of your identity you would like to change in
   any way?

5. How might your identity be different five years from today?

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Downloadable Resources

The team at É«ÖÐÉ«'s Recovery Center at Gresham view their completed labyrinth on the east lawn of their campus.

At É«ÖÐÉ«, the program environment is a foundational part of our recovery model. This means we strive to create environments that are inclusive, welcoming, and create a space where recovery can thrive.

É«ÖÐÉ«'s program in Oregon recently added a unique feature to their recovery environment : a wellness labyrinth created with staff and resident participation. 

The Labyrinth design.

When you visit the Gresham campus, you will find a low-profile design with handcrafted stepping stones interspersed with pavers. The design, created at the direction of art therapy intern, Glee Lumb, is conducive to mindfulness and taking time for reflection and serenity in a fast-paced world. 

Labyrinths have long been used as a tool for mindfulness and meditation all over the world. A specific path is laid out to create a structured walking meditation that offers a pattern thought to enhance the right-brain activity. Walking the path can be a relaxing, often spiritual experience, which aids our members to safely and gently explore their own thoughts, emotions and memories as well as practice a new form of grounding and being.

 Research shows that labyrinths can offer other common benefits, including:

• Creating greater awareness of thoughts, emotions, and memories

• Reducing stress, agitation, and anxiety

• Replenishing energy

• Creating more clarity, focus, and peacefulness

• Decreasing somatic stress and worry

• Stabilizing blood pressure, gain higher physical and mental relaxation

• Improving overall wellness and health

• Nurturing a spiritual connection to the earth and a higher power

• Aiding in the practice of letting go and living one day, one step at a time

Read More About Recovery Environments at É«ÖÐÉ«: