Psychosis requires a unique set of skills. Providers encounter people with psychosis regularly, but most have little experience with this condition. People can present with psychosis in multiple ways, including as a feature of schizophrenia, trauma, or substance use. Mental health care providers can more effectively treat people who are affected by psychosis through CBTp training.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) is the standard of care in psychotherapy for individuals who experience psychosis. The CBTp program helps organizations develop a skilled team of providers equipped to deliver high quality, recovery-oriented services to people with psychosis.
How We Cultivate Clinical Skills
CBTp trained clinicians provide a higher level of expertise to your organization’s workforce with a more advanced understanding of psychosis. The BeST Center training program offers pathways for reaching different levels of CBTp expertise that correspond to a clinician’s stage of advancement. Starting at Level 1, our CBTp Foundational Skills course prepares providers/organizations to expand their capabilities with this client population. At Level 2, our consultation sessions offer enhanced support for tailoring skills/strategies to the provider’s setting and offers relationship-building opportunities. These have been identified as key drivers of staff retention and engagement.
What CBTp Trainees Are Saying
“These training sessions have changed my perspective on people who experiences psychosis. I know now that people with psychosis can live normal lives and learn to cope with their challenges. I am no longer reluctant to work with them. I am at least now willing to try.”
Cultivating Leaders
Progression through these levels can serve as a litmus test for emerging leaders who demonstrate leadership potential. Our Skill Development Pathway allows providers to demonstrate their aptitude while receiving individualized mentoring in the following areas:
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills
- Case conceptualization skills
- Experience with receiving formative feedback
- Developing competence in evidence-based practice
How We Train the Workforce
The BeST Center contracts with local mental health boards and community organizations (e.g hospitals, specialized treatment centers, and other organizations that serve people with serious mental illness) to train their workforce.
Training and implementation support includes:
- Foundational skills training in CBTp and post-training consultation
- Development and implementation of sustainable, growth-oriented psychosis care programs
- Networking opportunities that bring partners together to develop communities of care
How CBTp Training Aligns with Your Mission
Our CBTp training and consultation can support and enhance care provided in other evidence-based treatment programs, such as First Episode Psychosis (FEP) treatment and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams.
Meet the Team
BeST Center consultant trainers provide CBTp training, consultation and ongoing support for clinicians. Meet our trainers!
Harry Sivec, Ph.D. and Brian Crisan, M.A.Ed., LPCC-S provide training and consultation both in person and live depending on the needs of mental health professionals and community organizations.
Who We Train
We train many types of professionals who interact with people who have psychosis, including:
- Therapists (counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists)
- Case managers/Care coordinators
- Nurses
- Psychologists
- Peer support specialists
- Supported employment specialists
- Substance use counselors
- Forensic providers
- Specialized teams (ex. homeless outreach)
- Other community providers/organizations
become a CBTp trained organization
We partner with organizations to assess needs and design an implementation strategy that leads to improved provider skills, sustainable programming and ultimately, better outcomes for those with serious mental illness. Contact our experts to cbtp@neomed.edu or call 330.325.6699.
