Adaptive Mental Health Strategies for Clients and Care Partners
Presented by Stephen Nawotniak
This introductory course bridges the gap between symptom reduction and functional living by focusing on adaptive strategies for occupational success in work, education, and living environments. Rather than focusing exclusively on symptom management, this course equips practitioners and care partners with practical tools to help individuals achieve satisfaction and success in their chosen environments. Participants will learn evidence-based adaptive strategies that clients and care partners can implement, promoting recovery-oriented practice and meaningful occupational engagement.
Learning Outcomes
- Differentiate the four Stages of Recovery to match appropriate occupational therapy interventions to a client's current recovery needs and level of engagement
- Infer the clinical value of utilizing lived experience narratives to inspire hope and promote recovery-oriented practice in client and group settings
- Select adaptive occupational strategies that simplify task demands and reduce cognitive strain for individuals managing anxiety or mood-related challenges in living, learning, or working environments
- Classify adaptive strategies for performance patterns—including structured routines, environmental supports, and accountability check-ins—to promote consistent daily task initiation
- Match evidence-based care partner techniques—such as active listening, open-ended questioning, and strength reinforcement—to collaborative approaches that honor client autonomy in recovery-oriented care
Meet your instructor
Stephen Nawotniak
Stephen Nawotniak is a keynote speaker, occupational therapist, certified peer specialist, and award-winning author who combines professional expertise with his lived experience of bipolar disorder. Drawing from his work in mental health care and an eight-month volunteer trek down the East Coast, Stephen equips individuals…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Introduction and Foundational Concepts
This foundational chapter presents the four stages of recovery: four primary stages that a person can be in during their recovery journey. These foundational concepts establish the theoretical basis for the adaptive strategies and care partner techniques presented in subsequent chapters.
2. The Lived Experience
This chapter offers an authentic perspective through lived-experience interviews with individuals who have successfully implemented adaptive strategies in their recovery journeys. Learners will hear firsthand accounts of how adaptive approaches have supported meaningful engagement in work, learning, and living environments. These narratives illustrate the real-world impact of the strategies and concepts presented throughout the course and provide inspiring examples of recovery-oriented practice in action.
3. Adaptive Strategies for the Person
This chapter focuses on practical adaptive strategies that individuals with mental health needs can implement to support occupational success. Learners will examine adaptations specific to occupations (activities and tasks) and performance patterns (habits, routines, and roles). The chapter provides concrete examples and strategies that practitioners can teach clients to enhance their capacity for success and satisfaction in living, learning, and working environments.
4. Adaptive Strategies for Care Partners
This chapter expands the scope to include care partners—family members, friends, and supporters who play vital roles in recovery. Learners will explore the recovery model framework and foundational concepts in partnership-based care, including orienting, active listening, open-ended questioning, appropriate self-disclosure, and strength reinforcement. The chapter emphasizes collaborative approaches that empower care partners to meaningfully support individuals with mental health needs.
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