Describing a person
Deficit-based language
Strengths-based language
Schizophrenic, borderline, bipolar, hoarder
Person diagnosed with… Person who experiences the following… Person in recovery from… Person living with…
Addict (when used by people without lived experience), junkie, substance abuser
Person who uses substances Person living with addiction Person in recovery Person working on recovery Person participating in services Person with lived experience
Consumer, patient, client
Frequent flyer, super utilizer, a regular
Frequently uses services and supports Is resourceful A good self-advocate Attempts to get needs met
Describing Behavior
Deficit-based language
Strengths-based language
Good/bad, right/wrong
Different, diverse, unique
Suffering from
Person is experiencing, living with, working to recover from Person is experiencing strong emotions Person is upset/angry/overwhelmed Looking for support, looking for connection Having a hard time Specify unsafe behavior Person who has experienced incarceration Person disagrees with diagnosis Person sees themselves in a strengths-based way Resourceful; trying to get help; able to take control in a situation to get needs met; boundaries are unclear; trust in relationship has not been established; learned to navigate the world differently Constraints of the system don't meet the individual's needs; preferred options are not available; services and supports are not a fit People should not be reduced to acronyms; describe behaviors that are threatening Person is aware of their rights, empowered, self- advocate Person is trying new things that may have risks, exploring recovery pathways Barriers, needs, opportunity to develop skills
Acting out, "having behaviors"
Attention-seeking
Criminal, delinquent, dangerous
Denial, unable to accept illness, lack of insight
Manipulative
Oppositional, resistant, non-compliant, unmotivated
Danger to others, danger to self, general danger
Entitled
Puts self and/or recovery at risk
Weakness, deficits
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