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Personal recovery is a concept that emphasises an individual's unique process of achieving a meaningful and fulfilling life, even if mental illness symptoms are ongoing. This is in contrast to clinical perspectives that focus on reducing or eliminating symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine private practice psychologists' perceptions of recovery in the context of mental illness. Semi-structured interviews were completed with eight psychologists who worked in private practice in Victoria, Australia. Analysis was conducted with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six of the eight participants were not familiar with frameworks of recovery. Instead, their views had largely been shaped by interactions with clients. There was a view that clients undertake a unique journey towards greater functioning and reflective awareness. Symptom reduction was also considered part of this journey. The therapeutic relationship with clients was viewed as crucial to recovery. Efforts are needed to educate mental health practitioners working in private practice about recovery. Mechanisms to achieve this could be the inclusion of recovery frameworks in pre-registration courses, directing recovery-focused training and resources towards the private practice sector and establishing explicit links between recovery and commonly employed therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns regarding the physical and mental health impacts of frontline healthcare roles during the COVID-19 pandemic have been well documented, but the impacts on family functioning remain unclear. This study provides a unique contribution to the literature by considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers and their families. Thirty-nine frontline healthcare workers from Victoria, Australia, who were parents to at least one child under 18 were interviewed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five superordinate and 14 subordinate themes were identified. Themes included more family time during lockdowns, but at a cost; changes in family responsibilities and routines; managing increased demands; healthcare workers hypervigilance and fear of bringing COVID-19 home to their family members; ways in which families worked to "get through it". While efforts have been made by many healthcare organisations to support their workers during this challenging time, the changes in family functioning observed by participants suggest that more could be done for this vulnerable cohort, particularly with respect to family support.