Perspectives on the Standards

We feel proud of this Standard. It means that at our clubhouses, we are free and responsible adults, who do not need anyone else checking up on us. We decide what we will do, with whom we will do it, and how often we will come to the clubhouse. We do not "contract" with staff members to attend or to stay safe. Clubhouses are not clinical places, so we do not need clinical concepts. We can make promises and we can ask for help, but relationships at our clubhouses are between peers, not between service provider and client. This Standard also means that staff do not set goals for members—we set our own goals, and work at our own pace to achieve them.

Members even have the freedom to do no work at all while we are at the clubhouse. Many of us went through times when we were not able or did not want to work. We respect our members who are going through difficult times, and we continue to gently encourage them to work. One of the founders of the clubhouse movement, John Beard, felt that it was a compliment to his clubhouse that some members would come even when they were not up to working—it meant that his clubhouse was a welcoming, comfortable and friendly place. Sometimes just getting up, getting dressed, and getting down to the clubhouse is work enough.

This Standard empowers us. When we make choices, we become more involved in life, and we develop initiative and curiosity. When our choices are limited—as they are in hospitals and day treatment—these qualities wither away. Colleagues often find it difficult to develop motivation, initiative and the ability to choose, but with the support of caring colleagues, we can begin to take risks and grow. Just as members bring unique skills and interests, clubhouse life offers meaningful choices—of work within the clubhouse, a selection of T.E. placements, housing, and educational opportunities. Having the right to make our own decisions about every aspect of our lives is new for people with mental illness.