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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A story of recovery & hope

“I was taunted by voices telling me that I would be evicted from my home. My mental health provider, who had been trained in strategies informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis by BeST Center experts, and I used a reality testing strategy. We checked the evidence for and against what the voices were claiming. The reality-testing helped me to make better decisions, including choosing to move to assisted living. My physical and mental health are better now.”

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis

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.

Photo of CBTp consultant trainers Harry Sivec and Brian CrisanMeet 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)

    Paint Valley Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis trainees

  • 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 [email protected] or call 330.325.6699.

CBT-p Partner Sites

Cuyahoga County

Holmes County

LAKE County

Summit County

Wayne County

CBT-p RESOURCES

See additional information and resources.

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