A decade or more ago a movement of recovery oriented programs, enhanced policies and treatment options spread throughout the country. People all over the nation began to question their lifestyle and routines. They were fed up with their sad, lonely and meaningless lives, and they wanted more than a mere existence. Some were battling depression, others substance abuse, and still others, the walking wounded, were dealing with childhood and dysfunctional family issues. They were searching for answers.

Between the years of 1985 and 1991, an introspective based recovery movement emerged, broadening the approach to the treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse. This movement, and the new information that was gathered for the treatment of the movement, led to the identification of a variety of new psychiatric diagnosis. Before this time, most of the research that was done on the treatment of mental illness focused on the schizophrenic and other severe and persistent mental illnesses, rather than on the less severe and more treatable problems that were plaguing many "normally functioning" people and their families. These findings eventually expanded the type and number of people treated for mental/emotional problems, and in turn, led to the definition of entirely new and more defined psychiatric diagnoses, the DSM IV.

Because of this new information and research, there are many theories and methods that can be utilized and make up a good recovery program today. If used separately, many of them do not address the total needs of the person seeking help, but when successfully combined with the innate, creative and spiritual aspects of a holistic model of treatment, many people can experience an unlimited and abounding sense of good health and well being.

It is up to the counselor, health care professional, or treatment program to provide assistance in the most efficient and cost effective ways possible. The use of holistic techniques takes into account each aspect of the individual person. By incorporating the spiritual aspects of life, a lasting recovery outcome is possible. With limited health care reimbursement dollars and personal income, successful programs must be highly effective. InnerWisdom, Inc. has helped many clients and professionals achieve this goal.

It is also important that we, as professional mental health care providers, counselors and policy makers, work together for the benefit of our clients and our professions. We must work as a group of concerned individuals to voice our alarm and potential solutions to the national leaders that set the policies for such matters. Members of the InnerWisdom, Inc. staff are currently working with city, county, state, and national policy makers to bring about the much-needed change that will allow psychiatric care to flourish again. We feel that it is our responsibility to help find answers to a system of mental health care that is no longer able to deliver the Programs and Services required to help individuals cope with their lives.