Health Professionals’ Perspective on Implementing Recovery-Oriented Practice in A Mental Health Centre: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Background: Recovery-oriented care requires communication that supports autonomy and well-being. However, language can also reflect institutional norms and restrict user involvement. Aim: This study explores how health professionals’ discursive practices shape recovery-oriented care and influence service users’ perceptions of well-being. Method: A critical discourse analysis based on Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework was applied to four focus group interviews with 21 professionals at a Danish mental health centre. Findings: The analysis revealed four dominant discourses—Involvement, Recovery-Oriented Practice, Organization, and Coercion. While professionals expressed commitment to user involvement, their language also reproduced hierarchical power and institutional control, particularly in relation to substance use. Conclusion: Language both enables and constrains recovery-oriented care. Reflexive and inclusive communication strategies, along with institutional support, are essential to align practice with user-centered recovery values. Future research should integrate service users’ perspectives to co-develop inclusive communication approaches.