The Importance of Gracious Redundancy™ and Teamwork
The Importance of Gracious Redundancy™ and Teamwork
Oh, The Places You’ll Go! It may look colorful and like a fantastic bedtime story for someone less than four feet tall, but the reality of that text is that it contains virtually all you’ll ever need to know to make it successfully through life. We at D’Amore Healthcare embrace and echo Dr. Seuss’s “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the person who’ll decide where to go.”
Gracious Redundancy™ is an evidence-based, life-changing positive reinforcement theory applied to a patient’s addiction and mental health treatment at D’Amore Healthcare. It’s our DNA. The reason patients stay longer, learn to thrive (not survive), and experience healing: Gracious Redundancy. It gives oxygen to a new normal. Challenging old, destructive messages takes a compassionate band of support.
Gracious Redundancy™ layers compassion within individuals
Recurring compassion and prompting from others will create healthy behaviors that lead to a high quality of life. How? Gracious Redundancy™ layers compassion within individuals, layer upon layer of good, whole (not dangerous splinters from old people, places, things, or time) true messages, which give individuals the courage to be vulnerable and test new ideas or new habits. This process of trying on self-compassion, make life less stressful, harsh and/or overwhelming. Gracious redundancy catalyzes self-efficacy, creating healthy habits, which enjoy self-regulation and autonomy (rather than being regulated or managed by someone else), which leads to wellness and freedom.
In our 30 – 60 day residential treatment programs, there is a moment when just enough Gracious Redundancy™ builds up and the sun rises….
the patient learns to respond back to that old subconscious voice and patiently thank it for helping them get to where they are today: pain, scrapes, scars and all. Then, politely lets that voice know that Gracious Redundancy™ is growing here now, so there is no space or invitation for that voice and its old self-limiting messages. This is proactive living. This is the fulfilling experience of asking for help, receiving it and enjoying the dividends of discomfort. The foreign landscape and the uncertainty of everything new (even the quietness, as the old messages, stop distracting the individual) give Gracious Redundancy™ its role as the sun in the solar system of wellness.
Practicing Gracious Redundancy™ with patients provides the foundation for long-term success after treatment. D’Amore staff member, Kathy Dao, says this of Gracious Redundancy: “Gracious redundancy is providing the kindness and patience to slowly integrate good habits and structure into our patients’ lives, no matter how many times it takes.”
It Takes Trust
Addiction and mental health treatment are hard work – for both patients and providers. It takes commitment, patience and trust. There are times when a person in treatment wants to give up and change the plan. At this point, patients might be feeling frustrated, angry, scared or fatigued from the changes that are elbowing around the familiar trails, gremlins and self-characterization. New ideas and structure are safe, but they are threatening something familiar.
YES! Gracious Redundancy™ feels weird at first – helping professionals stepping in to take notice of the smallest details, praising the patient for small and large victories. BUT. Soon, it feels good, soothing even, to be known, acknowledged, affirmed, heard. Then, healthy patterns really layer in!
An environment of unconditional positive regard is scary at first – patients might be skeptical, critical even. During these unsettling moments, healthcare providers show mercy, but we do not necessarily expect the same in return. In fact, the DNA of Gracious Redundancy ™is unnatural. In a society that is about self and image, Gracious Redundancy™ looks deeper and serves the deeper needs of individuals to foster thriving.
Where Is the Spotlight
It takes teamwork to keep a patient in treatment when they are struggling with old beliefs, medication adjustments, the vulnerability DBT, talk therapy, CBT and a new environment require. D’Amore Healthcare’s Interdisciplinary Treatment Team practices Gracious Redundancy™ with each other. Teamwork and an intuitive knowledge of patient care keep the spotlight on the brave individual who wants relief from suffering and mental anguish.
The provider will be the difference between keeping a patient in treatment until the treatment plan is complete and the leaving, giving up on themselves and their new thinking, beliefs, feelings and high-quality life. When a team uses Gracious Redundancy™ to assist with a struggling patient, the outcome is almost always a successful one. This may take rotating in with the patient, getting guidance from leaders, or being supportive of each other. When a patient sees their providers treating them and each other with kindness and patience, they learn to trust in the process and in the provider. The Interdisciplinary Treatment Team has ideas, creativity and patience on deck – always! Spotlight on the patient! Gracious Redundancy™ – doing its job – staying present with the warrior (you!)
Never Give Up
Whether you are considering entering an addiction or mental health treatment or are a treatment center provider, be prepared for everything to feel upside down for a bit. Through Gracious Redundancy™ and teamwork, you will come out on top. Never ever give up on yourself and your ability to do amazing things.
