Our approach
Mental health is influenced by multiple factors, such as a person’s life experiences, environment, and social factors. Our approach to recovery, therefore, considers a person's lived experiences, rather than solely focusing on someone’s symptoms.
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Our way of working combines evidence-based approaches like Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), neuroscience, and psychodynamic formulations and recovery plans alongside therapeutic community principles and holistic, person-centred support. Relationships, reflection, and emotional wellbeing are at the core of everything we do.
Our clinical model, outlined below, combines five elements that support residents to improve self-awareness, self-regulation, and the ability to build healthy relationships, and to explore ways to build a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.
At CHT, the path to recovery is a shared journey, not a solitary climb. Our staff have low caseloads, so they can build relationships, trust and offer steady, person-centred support for as long as it’s needed.
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Everyone’s path to mental health recovery is different, and throughout their journey with us, residents are supported to make informed choices about their care, join group activities, and develop skills for work, education, or volunteering. When they are ready to move on, we help them with the transition, often to lower support or more independent living.
The five elements of our person-centred support
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Engagement: Being part of the community
We know new residents are likely to feel unsafe or uncertain when they first arrive. From the outset, we create an environment where people feel heard and supported to engage with community life and build connections with staff and peers. Starting at assessment and continuing throughout a resident's journey, our engagement approach is rooted in empathy, active listening, and the principles of being with and doing with rather than doing for; recognising that building trust and meaningful community engagement takes time.
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Attachment: Building supportive relationships
​Part of each resident's Recovery Plan, co-created at the start of their journey and revisited regularly, is to develop strategies to build relationships with others. Through various community engagement opportunities and gentle encouragement through regular keywork, we support residents to form positive, supportive attachments within the community and externally, build understanding of how people relate to each other, develop healthy boundaries, and build trust.
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Containment: Creating feelings of safety and resilience.
​Containment means developing the ability to hold and process difficult emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Through 1:1 psychotherapy and consistent support from staff and peers, we help residents build the relational safety needed to manage difficult emotions, symptoms, and life’s challenges.
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​Exploration: Discovering what's possible.
Exploration is about supporting residents to learn about their boundaries, the world around them, and how far they can go. With encouragement and support from staff and the community, residents can take positive risks, discover opportunities and new interests, and for many, find ways to get involved in work, education, hobbies, and other activities that matter to them.
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Autonomy: Greater choice & control.
​We help residents build and maintain autonomy by enabling them to make informed choices about their care, set goals, and gradually increase their responsibilities. Taking on more responsibilities and being more autonomous usually comes before a resident moves on from our care, usually to lower-supported housing, their family home, or their own flat.
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