Choose-get-keep: a psychiatric rehabilitation approach to supported employment

Increasing numbers of people with psychiatric disabilities are residing in communities rather than in inpatient settings. They are also becoming more aware of the benefits of working and of their legal right to employment with accommodations. Traditional work preparation programs have failed to result in employment for many people with psychiatric disabilities. However, supported employment, when modified to reflect the basic principles and practices of effective psychiatric rehabilitation, has been shown to result in employment benefits for participants at a reasonable cost to providers. With supported employment methodologies such as the choose-get-keep approach, providers can do much to help people with psychiatric disabilities reap the many social and financial benefits of employment and achieve their community living goals.