Highland Rivers Behavioral Health provides recovery-focused, strengths-based treatment and support for individuals affected by mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and intellectual developmental disabilities. In contrast to a more traditional medical model, which sees treatment as 'fixing what is wrong,' a recovery-focused treatment model is individual-driven, focusing on a person's strengths and abilities, building resilience and fostering natural supports. As a recovery-focused organization, the language we use is important, especially when describing an individual's diagnosis, challenges and behaviors. These fact sheets were developed by Highland Rivers' Recovery Focused Transformation (RFT) committee as part of its Language Matters initiative, and provide practical examples of how to use person-first, recovery-focused language - whether or not you work directly with the individuals we serve.