Compare And Contrast Medical Model Vs Recovery Model

As to the differences between the two models, there are many. The medical model is based on labels and physical ailments, the recovery model understands that a patient’s experience of the disorder is the disorder (Rosenberg & Rosenberg, 2017). The medical model is concerned with norms; however, humans are understood to be individual and unique-significant “variants” that will create more variants-a fact celebrated by the recovery model (Ham, 2009). The medical model views recovery as the absence of symptoms, and seeks to eradicate illness and return to “ideal” levels of functioning. The recovery model views recovery as a sense of well-being despite symptom presentation, and self-agency to find meaning, purpose, and satisfaction while living with their illness. The main difference between the two has been described thus: the medical model treats the patient like a disease- a syndrome built by symptom cluster, while the recovery model treats the patient like a person- capable, with strengths, dreams, and personal standards of acceptability for their lives. …show more content…
One such advantage is that it addresses the client’s goals, and seeks to assist him or her reach the place in their life they want to be, to construct their life the way that they want it. It involves aspects that are shared by all people, fostering a sense of inclusion. The recovery model recognizes that the individual’s experiences make them the experts, it is built on potential, choice, positive expectations, the instilling of hope, and confidence in a client’s strengths. Too, the recovery model supports a strong peer culture, improving social integration (NAMI, 2015). Recovery in this context, means access to a full-scale program that includes resources such as exercise, education, relationship forming, therapy, life skills enhancement, support groups, and self-help groups, to name a few (B. Padgett, 2007, as cited by Ham,