Values and Ethics

Strong values and ethics are the cornerstone of all Copeland Center trainings. Facilitators must understand these ethics before leading Mental Health Recovery and WRAP groups and workshops to ensure a supportive learning environment. In addition, they need to review them from time to time. During group facilitation, they review the concepts and make adjustments if there are any indications that the values and ethics are being violated. Facilitators give participants copies of a values and ethics checklist to review periodically and ask for suggested changes if the concepts are not being followed. The values and ethics that underlie all of our trainings are sumarized below:

• There is hope, people can get well, stay well for long periods of time, and do the things they want to do with their lives.
• Self-determination, personal responsibility, empowerment, and self-advocacy are key aspects of all trainings.
• Workshop decision-making and personal sharing are supported.
• Participants are treated as equals with dignity, compassion, mutual respect, and unconditional high regard.
• There is unconditional acceptance of each person as they are – unique, special individuals - including acceptance of diversity in relation to culture, ethnicity, language, religion, race, gender, age, disability, sexual preference, and one's "readiness."
• There are “no limits” to recovery.
• Participants may freely explore choices and options and are not expected to find simple, final answers.
• All participation is voluntary.
• Each person is the expert on him or herself.
• The focus is on individual strengths rather than perceived deficits.
• Clinical, medical and diagnostic language is avoided.
• Participants work together and learn from each other to increase mutual understanding, knowledge, and promote wellness.
• Strategies that are simple and safe for everyone are emphasized; strategies that may have harmful effects are avoided.
• Difficult feelings and behaviors are seen as normal responses to traumatic circumstances viewed in the context of what is happening, not as symptoms or a diagnosis.
• There is unconditional acceptance of all creative work and expressions that are created or brought to each session. This includes movement, sound, painting, drawing, collage, and three- dimensional construction. The creator is always in control of his or her work.