Procovery and Healthcare Reform

“What strikes me about Procovery is its steadfast focus on the future and how people need to take responsibility for their own wellness. As such, I think Procovery has the potential to be a major force in the healthcare reform efforts of people with severe and persistent mental illnesses and the providers who serve them. We’re all looking for a way to encourage people to make changes in their lives and I think Procovery is one of the best tools available to actually do that.”Dave Pilon, Ph.D., President and CEO, Mental Health America of Los Angeles

Procovery Institute is honored to be able to serve as a change agent, not only for profoundly inspiring Procovery Circle participants who consistently create changes that they, and nearly everyone around them, never thought they would or could make, but we are equally honored to serve as a change agent for providers, agencies and communities, also struggling amidst an ever changing sea of devastating cutbacks, increased demand and diminishing resources.

Joseph Parks, MD, in Behavioral Healthcare magazine outlines MO’s experience with an urban/rural implementation pilot of Procovery, and cites seven specific components essential to recovery programming – all of which he directly relates to Procovery components.*

The 7 essential components he identifies as essential to recovery programming.

· Specificity

· Application across diagnoses, including behavioral and physical

· Staff training

· Application across a spectrum of settings, cultures, and stakeholders

· Fidelity and accountability

· Complementary, not competitive, to existing services and programs.

· Change agent 

Dr. Parks addresses the need for “recovery implementation to have both the substance and form to serve as a change agent to lead agencies, providers, and stakeholders to do business differently.”

Dr. Parks attributes Procovery with the ability to serve as a change agent and quotes Peter M. Senge “[often] new insights fail to get put into practice because they conflict with deeply held internal images of how the world works, images that limit us to familiar ways of thinking and acting.” 

Procovery Institute has been studying change for over fifteen years and one of the things we observe time and again is how times of extreme challenge and crisis can serve as catalysts and, in essence, springboard individuals, agencies and communities to change.

Procovery Institute is currently finalizing planning and assessment for our next phased expansion.

Until next time…

Procovery Institute

*Click here to find this article on amazon!

What Is Your Path?

There are as many paths to healing, as there are to illness. What is your path? It is surely different from anyone else’s in that you will start where you are, head in the direction of your choice, dreams and vision and you will make different choices and utilize different resources along the way…

Often, when faced with a serious challenge or difficulty, we can feel we are not strong enough to do what we need to do to get through the crisis. Many times it can feel especially challenging to try to determine how we can keep doing everything we were already doing AND add in the hard work of healing.

But that’s just it – often challenges are “dangerous opportunities” and one of the real benefits can be to STOP doing everything we were doing, and begin doing something different. Below is an excerpt from Procovery Institute’s Certificate of Empowerment:

As bearer of this certificate you are no longer required to depend on the advice of experts. You may step back and view the entire world—not just your home, neighborhood or town, but the whole Earth—as a Procovery oriented learning experience, a laboratory containing medicines, therapies, strategies, sources of support, ways to heal and to grow, and ideas without end. Although collections of these treasures have been located in hospitals and clinics for your convenience, they are to be found in prayer, bubble baths, animals, sunsets, snowfall, romance, music, art, mathematics, physics, engineering, foods, and everywhere else, too. 

Expanding our view of healing places, people and things can make all of the difference. You have incredible power and potential and must keep in mind that finding ways to continually inspire yourself for the very hard work of healing can be as critical to your healing process as anything else that you do.

Today we will leave you with an excerpt from Los Angeles-based musician Wes Poland’s contribution to Procovery Institute’s MUSIC HEALS video project:

About 3 years ago I got clean and sober from alcohol and drug addiction. Going through that in my own life and kind of hitting rock bottom and realizing “okay, what am I meant to do in this life…” and looking for some sort of purpose, I turn to music, immediately… As stuff comes up, rather than turn to drugs and alcohol to damper the feelings, I’m able to use music to express those feelings and get them out and deal with them in a good, healthy way. 

To learn more about Procovery Institute’s ongoing MUSIC HEALS project, or to inquire about MUSIC HEALS events, please contact us at MusicHeals@Procovery.com.

A Profound Thank You from PI as We Gear Up to Resume Implementation in the Coming Months!

The Procovery program has been in ongoing testing/revision/expansion mode for over fifteen years. Throughout this testing phase we studied wellness rather than illness, and we allowed the program to organically grow and evolve. We learned in the field, directly from people with lived experience and those who (professionally and personally) supported them. To date, we have turned down interest across the nation and over a dozen countries, because we didn’t want to go a “mile wide and an inch deep”. We had absolutely no idea that we would be met with the myriad barriers and complications that we were. Frankly, we thought it would be simpler. But we soon came to find that implementing a system of healing is, sadly, in our current system, just as frustrating, complicated and often just as “sickening” as it is to be a person who is attempting to heal in a system that often does not recognize, support or sustain a true healing process.

Along the way we were truly honored to work with the most absolutely amazing people. People with lived experience, who wanted nothing more than to share their knowledge, passion, expertise and insights on healing to all of those who could benefit. Professionals who often endured less pay, harsher work settings, and longer hours because they wanted to create systems change and help people heal. Family members (whether family of origin or family of choice) who often found themselves being asked to deliver 95% of the care needed, outside of traditional medical settings, and yet being left out of basic treatment information.

Sometimes it seemed as though our path to implementing Procovery looked a lot like the long line at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The kind of line where you believe that around every corner you are almost there, only to find that around that corner is an equally long line with another corner up ahead… And that instead of attempting to change the system, instead of building communities of hope, one Procovery Circle at a time, that we would just stop and instead write a book about lessons learned and all of the ways the system frustrates, and often traumatizes, hinders and ultimately prevents, healing.

But we didn’t do that, for a very simple reason. Because of all of the people who had decided to believe one more time, all of the people who had been afraid to “get their hopes up” one more time, because of all of the people that were afraid Procovery would be the flavor of the time being and that it wouldn’t be systemically sustained. And boy, are we glad we kept going!

We are now positioned to have real, meaningful impact on health care reform. We can now build hope, build communities of change and save lives and save money – and we are proud to say that is just some of what we can do.

We want to thank you all for your continued belief in, support of, and commitment to Procovery. We appreciate you, we are honored by you and we plan to make you proud as we resume implementation in the coming months.

To close, we would like to leave you with three Procovery Podcast interview clips:

Gary Gougis, Peer Advocate, Community Support Worker & Procovery Circle Facilitator – Los Angeles, CA
Stephanie Schmidt , Occupational Therapist & Procovery Circle Facilitator – St. Louis, MO
Sinikka Santala, Wisconsin Department of Health Division Director (Retired) – Madison, WI

Until next time…

Kathleen

Basic Procovery Brewing Steps by Honorable Mention Procovery Guest Blogger Mary Catherine Booth!



As we recently mentioned, we found ourselves drawn to two additional entries in our Procovery Guest Blogger contest and while we were planning for just one winner, during the review process, we felt the need to create Honorable Mention spots on our blog to shine a spotlight on some inspiring individuals who shared so deeply with us. This week’s Honorable Mention is Mary Catherine Booth of St. Louis, Missouri! Mary has dedicated the following poem to Procovery Circle Facilitator Millie Fortune-Gilpin, also of St. Louis, Missouri.



Basic Procovery Brewing Steps
1. Choose Procovery Just Start Anywhere
     2. Add Hope
         3. Measure Looking Forward
             4. Show up and be a part of your Procovery Circle
A cup of Procovery shared with friends is….
      Happiness and Hope… tasted!
            Time well spent
                If you’ll excuse me I’m going to have another cup of Procovery
I have measured out my life with Procovery spoons
     A cup of Procovery one sip at a time
          Nothing like a good cup of Procovery in the morning
               Makes me want to get up
                    Awakens me makes me feel good and ready
                           Hopeful for the day to come
                                Nothing can really be said after the first sip
                                     but a quiet utter of “mmmmmm”
A cup of Procovery today
      It’s awesome to smell the hope would yah?
             Procovery it is a food group
                  My favorite kind of bean (being)
                         It’s not a beverage
                                It’s a moment of pleasure and looking forward
My Cup of PROCOVERY
       An aroma that fills the room with warming
             Brewing gently
                 Steady of hope
                      Love
                            And calm.
                                Friends to gather
                                    Sharing
                                        Soul
                                            Heart
                                                 Life.
                                             Hoping together
                                          Bonded by each cup
                                      The tenderness of solitude
                                  With a good Procovery book
                           As I take the first sip
                      Of the first cup
                 I drink up
             And share the hope of Procovery
         Coming from a slurp of clarity
      I realize again that I am blessed to share this cup with such a friend.
   Best mixed with friendship and simple conversation
Warmed with compassion
     A few drips of Procovery
           It’s amazing what it can do
               Smiling, laughing, relaxing, knowing, believing, remembering
                      And most important of all FEELING.
I went to perk a pot of Procovery and it perked up my life
    Procovery much more than a flavor, roast, or aroma
        It’s a way of life.
            To share this cup with such a friend…. is life itself.
                 I need my cup of Procovery to set me free
                      And awaken me once again.

— Mary Catherine Booth*


*Mary Catherine Booth, with her Basic Procovery Brewing Steps blog submission, is one of two Honorable Mention winners of Procovery Institute’s Procovery Guest Blogger contest! Mary will receive a Have a cup of Procovery today! mug as a prize for her Honorable Mention entry. Thank you Mary for inspiring us all with your creativity and your passion. Congratulations!

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” -Oprah Winfrey

Today is a special day to us all here at Procovery Institute, and within our families, as it marks the birth of the amazing Randy Stratt! Today is his 55th birthday and we are all remembering, missing and celebrating the wonder of Randy…
Randy A. Stratt
May 9, 1956-October 7, 2009
While it’s sometimes very difficult to accept that Randy can’t physically be here to celebrate with us, we also know that one of the most important things we can do for ourselves in our own lives, as well as for Randy’s memory, and most certainly in his honor, is to continue celebrating. Randy was a wonderful example, teacher and mentor to so many of us – he taught us how to celebrate and value life.
In honor of Randy, as he was one of the most productive and visionary people we’ve known, we’ve dedicated today to making something happen!
Randy accomplished so much — both in his personal life and his work life. He was a beautiful and powerful force, and he left an extraordinary foundation, both personally for his family, and professionally for the next, exciting stage and evolution of Procovery. We hope you might take a moment this week, in his honor and spirit, both to remember Randy, and also to truly recognize the potential and wonder of you and to make something happen, even something small… There’s never been a better day, let’s make something happen!
Just Start Anywhere. Today!
Until next time…
Procovery Institute



Another Cup of Procovery by Guest Blogger Nancy Bollinger



As I sat at the table, looking around at those who regularly attend Procovery each Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and those who were new to the table I realized that there is something that is so familiar. I reflected back to when I was a child visiting my grandparents in rural Southeast Missouri. This was not a rare occasion as they lived next door to us for many, many years, but to visit when family came from out of town was a special occasion. You could smell the Tasters Choice as grandma poured the boiling water over the teaspoons of instant coffee, cup after cup. I can’t say that there was ever anyone that could be considered a stranger visiting. It always seemed as though this was a cousin or niece or nephew from here or there, so even the strangers it seemed were family.

That’s how I feel when I sit at the table during our weekly Procovery Circle. We all sit around the table, some old friends and some strangers visiting for the first time; however, what makes it special is that by the end of the Circle, we are all family coming together to utilize the tools and share insights of moving forward in our lives via Procovery. Before leaving the majority shares that they will see me next week, same time, and same place. The warmth I feel is the same as I had as a child in my grandparents’ kitchen listening to the tales and smelling the Tasters Choice. Yes, I think I’ll have another cup of Procovery.

–Nancy Bollinger*, CMPS, Licensed Procovery Circle Facilitator


*Nancy Bollinger, with her Another Cup of Procovery blog submission, is the winner of Procovery Institute’s Procovery Guest Blogger contest. Thank you for your inspiring and heartfelt blog entry, Nancy, and congratulations!

Procovery Guest Blogger Contest Winner Announcement!

We are happy to announce the winner of our Procovery Guest Blogger Contest is Nancy Bollinger, Executive Director of Selp Help Center in Affton, MO with her blog entry, Another Cup of Procovery!


Click here to listen to Nancy speak about Procovery and the Self Help Center!


Click here to visit the Procovery iTunes channel – Free downloads of all Procovery Podcasts are available, including Nancy’s!




Thank you all for your submissions! We are inspired and touched by what you wrote and have immensely enjoyed reading your entries. It’s always difficult to make a decision like this.

We found ourselves drawn to 2 additional entries, for which we would like to extend honorable mentions. Both of these additional applicants will receive a Have a Cup of Procovery mug.  Please check back for the honorable mention announcements and new blog entries!

Procovery Contest Prize!
For today, CONGRATULATIONS to Nancy — Your prize is shipping out from our office in Los Angeles today,  and your blog entry will be posted this afternoon!

-Procovery Institute

Learning From Each Other

Along the path to where we are now, we were surprised (and sometimes overwhelmed) by all of the systemic considerations and challenges associated with systems change. There were the obvious and known barriers but there were also “hidden” and rarely discussed challenges that hindered moving forward and real change.

I have so many different experiences to share in this regard, and may, in fact, write a book about the amazing and complex process one day. In today’s blog I will discuss just one such challenge.

Years ago, as part of a “test” of Procovery, I went to a meeting attended by myself and Randy Stratt (co-founder and creator of Procovery, and my amazing and very much missed, late husband) along with the owner/operator of a residential care facility, as well as some of the local DMH staff. The DMH designees were discussing the potential of us holding a Procovery Circle at this particular residential care facility, as part of an evaluation of Procovery efficacy.

Despite the real courtesy extended to us, it felt to me, that the owner/operator was both hesitant and uncomfortable with the idea of having a Procovery Circle operate at his site, although he did not express this.


Randy and I felt, from the very beginning, that while WE thought Procovery was the best and most amazing healing resource for some individuals, that absolutely nothing is right for everyone. The more options and resources and choices available the better – each person should be in a position to make this decision for him or her self.


After the meeting was over, concerned about the owner/operator’s potential discomfort, I stopped back in, and asked the facility owner if I could speak with him for a moment. I shared that I felt that he was possibly a bit hesitant to hold a Procovery Circle at his site, and I wanted him to be assured that Procovery is a voluntary program. And that if, for any reason at all, he didn’t want a Circle held at his site, that we would not move forward in that regard. We would very easily select another site with no problems and no questions.

He looked very uncomfortable, shifted around a bit, and finally said slowly and softly

“I am afraid that Procovery will help people heal.”

My head began to spin, but I also respected his feelings and appreciated his genuine, blatant honesty.

He then shared, haltingly and thoughtfully, that he was trying very hard to make ends meet. That when someone first moved in to his site, they were extremely labor intensive, and therefore costly. He said that finding the right room-mate, was an often difficult and disruptive and trying process, but something critical to safety and quality of life. He said finding the right match of worker for each resident, appropriate activities for each resident, ensuring they continue to access their benefits, in part so that, quite simply, the facility got paid, could pay its bills, and so that the resident did not find him or her self, homeless. He said it was important to learn about any family involvement, and what that entailed. He shared that this took time and sensitivity to understand the often multi layer issues and hurt that were associated, and that all of this is labor intensive on the front end.

Furthermore, he said it took real focus and effort to best support any medication routine a new resident arrived with, and that in new surroundings often dosage, type and timing needed to be adjusted to best support a resident’s healing process… And that they also had to find “work arounds” to effectively deal with the “side” effect of medications, learn what food or other restrictions or requirements might exist and often deal with the hugely problematic issues that arose when people went off of their medication, not due to ineffectiveness, but due to anger or frusration, and as a result , he felt, often the individuals did not follow requirements to continue to receive benefits and then were subsequently evicted and living on the street until such time that they began receiving benefits again and moved back – the majority of the time in crisis mode.

And then, he reasoned, if once all of that expensive and labor intensive work was undertaken….if then Procovery helped people heal and move forward… and potentially away…? Well, then, he would find himself on an expensive and reasonably constant merry-go-round of getting people settled only to see them move, and leave space for the next, labor and cost intensive resident, and then the next, and the next and so on. He shared that many of his residents had been there for over a decade and they were now very cost effective, not overly taxing his staff or his budget.


He seemed painfully embarrassed to share this with me.

The owner stated that he was committed to making his facility safe and comfortable and as inclusive and hopeful as possible, but that if Procovery did what he thought it could, he would not financially survive. And then no one would be better off, he reasoned…because he felt he was offering a truly safe, comfortable, caring residence, something that was often very hard to find.


This story is an example of just one of the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of barriers and challenges we faced during our extended testing and revision program development stage. After further consultation, the owner of this facility selected to move forward, albeit hesitantly, with a Procovery Circle at his site. That process and lessons learned is enough to fill its own book. But in short, the owner became a huge advocate for Procovery and selected to have staff receive training, supported the Procovery Circle hugely and supported new and exciting events at the facility. I am immensely appreciative of his willingness to honestly discuss his concerns, and his interest in trying a new way of doing things. As a result of his honesty, and the honesty of hundreds of other people, across the country, Procovery changed, evolved and became a powerful vehicle for health care reform and true, sustainable systems change.

Every person involved in the system has their own unique views, considerations, concerns, needs and requirements. The starting point, the path to healing, and the desired destination, will not be the same for any two people. Nor should it be. We are all different. And there is beauty and power and strength in our differences. Yet, while we are all different, we are all interdependent. Together we can make spectacular, unprecedented changes. But one thing we need to do, along the way, is meet everyone where they are, open the lines of communication, and inspire each and every person, agency, community to move forward… We cannot live and work with only our own agenda in mind. To create truly sustainable transformational change, we must learn from each other and work (and celebrate!) together.

“If everybody is thinking alike then somebody isn’t thinking.”

-General George S. Patton

“And I think both the left and the right should celebrate people who have different opinions, and disagree with them, and argue with them, and differ with them, but don’t just try to shut them up.”

-Roger Ebert

MHALA, Procovery and Transformation!

We are honored to be supported by powerful and passionate and dedicated people across the country. We are truly inspired by organizations across LA that keep on working, to change lives, and systems, despite often devastating cutbacks and increasing red tape. Some days, it can seem, that people are required to spend more time documenting care, than delivering it. We are inspired by and honored to know so many amazing people, striving for change.


Today we would like to take a moment to shine the spotlight on Mental Health America of Los Angeles. MHALA is an extraordinary and visionary organization here in Los Angeles. They have long been doing the hard work, asking the difficult questions and raising the bar of expectations, so to speak. MHALA has been consistently committed to change, even in an environment in which change can seem nearly impossible.


Today we will share audio clips from four different Procovery podcasts.  Each interviewee is discussing how they feel Procovery ties to health care reform or transformation, with the exception of Angelica, who talks about what initially attracted her to Procovery.


Please click on the individual names to hear each clip and be sure to visit our Procovery iTunes Channel to listen to the full interview podcasts, available for free download!


Catherine Bond, Former Assoc. Dir. & Training Coordinator at PRPSN, Current Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Client Coalition


Angelica Garcia, Senior Program Manager, Project Return Peer Support Network


“The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”


–William James


Become a Procovery Guest Blogger!

SUBMIT YOUR PROCOVERY GUEST BLOG ENTRY!

Please submit your Procovery Guest Blog Entry entry to win the Procovery mug and prizes below, inspired by the Procovery Snippet A Cup of Procovery! 
The author of the selected Procovery Guest Blog Entry will receive:

  • “Have a cup of Procovery today!” Mug
  • Stuffed Animal Lamb with Just Start Anywhere Ribbon 
  • “Believe” Bookmark
  • Candy!
  • 4 Taster’s Choice Instant Coffee Packets
  • Procovery Mini Wallet w/ $5 Starbucks Card
  • 2 Bellagio Caffe Cioccolato Gourmet Mocha Mix (1 Coffee and 1 Dark Chocolate)

Procovery Guest Blog Contest Prize!

If you would like to enter, please send in your submission (can be very short, or up to 300 words) by email to support@procovery.com. The topic for your blog entry can be about anything you feel would be informative, interesting, inspiring or important to share. The winner will have the option of their name and/or location cited, or selecting an anonymous entry. Procovery Institute will need a name and mailing address information even for anonymous entries so as to ship out the prize! 
Entry submissions will be accepted through end of day, Tuesday, May 3, 2011 and the winner will be announced on Thursday, May 5th, 2011. Please indicate GUEST BLOG SUBMISSION CONTEST in email subject line.
We so look forward to reading what you have to share and we know that others will too!!