ADP testimonial - Chris Hall, Clinical Psychologist

"I found the experience of the ADP training helpful, particularly in making me think again about how best to engage people in doing things for themselves.  The workshops were small groups, which made it easy to get involved in exercises and I thought that participants were well supported in trying out new things, without being made to feel inadequate.  There was an emphasis in each workshop on identifying a specific skill, such as agreeing what to discuss in a session, or exploring conflicting feelings about making changes.  Finally, each person was encouraged to try out a specific technique before the next workshop which helped to embed the ideas.

"I particularly liked the training because the ideas presented fitted with my own approach to dealing with mental health.  There is a specific emphasis on encouraging people to help themselves.  This is at odds with the common expectation that people see a health professional who will "fix" them.  I found that the self-management ideas encouraged me to offer fewer solutions to people and instead to ask people questions that allowed them to come up with their own solutions.  Many of the ideas in the ADP are familiar to me (such as motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy), but having them combined in a self-management format has helped me to feel less pressure to solve people's problems.

"More specifically, I have tried changing my practice in two areas.  I run an inpatient group and one of the techniques we have incorporated with some success is to help participants be more specific about setting small goals for themselves.  A second area of change is in dealing with crisis calls as part of a CMHT.  I have often found that people find it difficult to use solutions when suggested, but when given the space, are able to identify solutions for themselves.  Perhaps the most helpful aspect of the training has been a reminder that people are often more capable of managing their mental health than either they or others may think."

Chris Hall, Clinical Psychologist, South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust