Psychosocial rehabilitation: a newcomer's eye

With the increasing emphasis on evidence-based practices and recovery-oriented mental health services, the field of psychosocial rehabilitation for people with serious mental illness has a promising future. A tension exists in the rehabilitation movement--which comprises individuals with mental illness, care providers, family members, and other stakeholders--between those who advocate for recovery leading to full participation in the mainstream and those who call for more modest goals. This tension stems from ideological underpinnings that frequently drive debates about rehabilitation research and program development. This Open Forum proposes a strategy for clinicians to mediate the different perspectives, with an emphasis on flexibility and an individualized approach to clinical care and rehabilitation. The challenges and rewards of this approach for clinicians in training are also highlighted.