Psychosocial Recovery Coaching: Comprehensive Overview

This is a comprehensive guide to psychosocial recovery coaching — what it is, how it works, the approaches used, and how it fits under the NDIS. For a shorter introduction, we have a briefer article on our blog.

Heartfelt Support is a provider of psychosocial recovery coaching in Adelaide.

What is psychosocial recovery coaching?

Psychosocial recovery coaching is a type of support that helps people recovering from mental health conditions to achieve their goals and improve their overall wellbeing. It is a collaborative process in which the recovery coach works with the individual to identify their strengths, needs, and challenges, and helps them develop a plan for moving forward.

Unlike conventional therapy, which often focuses on exploring past experiences, recovery coaching places more emphasis on the present and future — on building new skills, developing strategies for managing challenges, and working toward specific goals that matter to the individual.

A brief history

Psychosocial recovery coaching developed within the broader field of recovery support services for people experiencing mental health conditions and substance use challenges. The idea of recovery — as distinct from symptom management — has roots in the 19th century, with the development of “moral treatment” for people with mental illness. The self-help and peer support movements of the late 20th century contributed significantly to the recovery model as it’s understood today.

“Recovery coaching” as a specific intervention is relatively recent. It extends the peer support model — in which people with lived experience of mental health challenges offer guidance and support to others in recovery — into a more structured professional role. Recovery coaches are now incorporated into treatment and recovery support systems across Australia and internationally.

Benefits

Psychosocial recovery coaching is tailored to the needs and objectives of the individual. It supports the development of new skills and approaches for overcoming obstacles and achieving goals, while helping people recognise their existing strengths and build on them.

The goal- and action-oriented nature of recovery coaching is central to its effectiveness. It helps people establish and pursue clear, attainable goals — improving mental health, finding employment, strengthening relationships — and supports them in staying on track. The recovery coach also provides a consistent source of accountability and encouragement, which is particularly valuable for people whose lives have been disrupted by mental health challenges.

Approaches used in recovery coaching

The specific approach used will vary depending on the individual’s needs and goals. Common frameworks include:

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It helps people recognise and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more constructive responses. CBT can be particularly useful for people in recovery from anxiety or depression.

Motivational Interviewing supports people who are uncertain or ambivalent about making changes in their lives. It is based on the principle that people are more likely to change when they feel motivated and empowered rather than pressured. This approach is useful for people who may be resistant to change or who have difficulty sustaining commitment to their goals.

Strengths-Based Strategies focus on a person’s assets, capabilities, and resources rather than their problems or deficits. This approach helps people recognise and build on what’s already working, rather than concentrating primarily on what’s difficult.

Why we favour the strengths-based approach

A strengths-based approach promotes a positive and hopeful outlook from the start. When people can identify and build on their capabilities — rather than focusing primarily on their difficulties — they’re more likely to feel optimistic about their ability to make positive changes. For people who are managing complex circumstances or who have experienced significant setbacks, this matters.

This approach also builds resilience and self-esteem. When people can see and recognise their own strengths, they feel more confident and capable of navigating the recovery process. It develops a sense of agency — a feeling of having some control over one’s own life — which is often one of the most significant things that mental health challenges can erode.

Who are the coaches?

There are two main types of recovery coaching practitioner. The first is trained therapists, usually psychologists, working within a recovery coaching framework. The second is people with lived experience — individuals who have personally navigated mental health and/or substance use challenges and now support others through the same process. Both approaches have proven effective, and the right fit depends on the individual’s needs and preferences.

How it works under the NDIS

Psychosocial recovery coaching is classified as a “capacity building” support under the NDIS. This means it’s funded to help participants develop their skills and abilities over time, rather than to provide ongoing direct care. Eligible participants can access recovery coaching funding in their NDIS plan and use it to work with a recovery coach toward their goals.

Further reading

• Life coaching for mental health recovery: the emerging practice of recovery coaching — Bora, Leaning, Moores et al., Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2010)
• Manual for recovery coaching and personal recovery plan development — Loveland and Boyle (2005)

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