Psychosis Training Toolkit

This toolkit is a resource for providers to grow their knowledge about early psychosis, and to develop necessary skills to provide effective, high-quality services. To begin, review the manual “Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis in Massachusetts” to learn about the key principals and elements of early psychosis care.

 

Introduction to Psychosis

  • Complete the self-guided modules, “Intro to Psychosis: Assessment, Treatment, & Feedback” for an introduction to early intervention and treatment in psychosis.

  • For a more detailed review of Coordinated Specialty Care and its components, complete the additional “Basics of Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for Early Psychosis” self-guided modules here.

  • Watch the Voices of Recovery videos and identify useful ones to show to clients and families.

 

Client Assessment & Monitoring

 

Role-Specific Trainings for CSC

The NAVIGATE treatment model is the primary approach used by early psychosis programs in Massachusetts. See below for training & onboarding materials for all NAVIGATE CSC team members. This model may be supplemented by a number of additional evidence-based practices, which are also included here.

Onboarding MaterialS

OTHer Evidence-based practices

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) is a structured, time-limited, and goal-based treatment modality that aims to enhance functioning in the context of psychotic symptoms. CBTp forms a collaborative treatment alliance in which patient and therapist can explore distressing experiences and the patient’s beliefs about these experiences, with the goal of reducing distress and disability.

    1. Complete Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) ePrimer, a free 3-hour, self-guided course on CBT-p available through the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC).

    2. Watch the 3-part EASA Webinar Series on CBT for psychosis. This series gives an overview of CBTp, presents different CBTp models, and explores integration of these models and considerations when choosing which to implement. (Session 1 Slides / Session 2 Slides / Session 3 Slides)

    3. Watch the following webinar for intermediate-level CBT clinicians. This video builds on foundational knowledge of CBT by examining techniques to develop a collaborative, team-based formulation.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility means contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being, and based on what the situation affords, changing or persisting in behavior in the service of chosen values.

    1. Watch Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian and Brandon Gaudiano’s introduction to ACT for psychosis here.

    2. Read more at actforpsychosis.com