Treatment for Adults with Psychosis
We’re not a “one size fits all” program. Each adult client is assigned to one of three specialized recovery communities. Clients experiencing psychosis are assigned to the CAFE recovery community. Clients meet daily with a core group of CAFE clients. The group is led by a specialized counselor. Each client also receives individualized, one-on-one support from a primary counselor and psychiatrist who focus specifically on clients in that recovery community.
Addressing First Episode Psychosis
The CAFE recovery community treats adults who have experienced a first psychotic episode, either related to a thought disorder, such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, or a mood disorder such a bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. Having an episode of psychosis can be a confusing and frightening experience. The goal of CAFE is to help clients make sense of their symptoms, understand their diagnosis and medications, implement effective coping strategies, and develop a recovery plan.
Managing Persistent Symptoms of Psychosis
The CAFE recovery community helps adult clients learn strategies to manage persistent symptoms of psychosis. These clients may have a longer history with symptoms of psychosis and recently have experienced an increase in symptoms or a setback in recovery maintenance. These clients have an opportunity to identify new strategies for managing symptoms related to their diagnosis and tools for maintaining stability and overall health.
Components of CAFE
Individual and group work in CAFE focuses on:
- Building insight and defining what psychosis is and what psychosis is not
- Developing effective strategies like reality testing to manage symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, mania, depression, and anxiety
- Identifying triggers and vulnerability that contribute to an increase of symptoms
- Adopting healthy living habits including healthy eating, exercise, and sleep hygiene
- Improving medication adherence and coping with side effects
- Utilizing family and social support and improving communication
- Confronting the stigma of psychosis in society/school/work
- Increasing fun or pleasurable activities and community engagement
Cognitive Training
Many CAFE clients participate in Cognitive Training (CT). CT is a computer-based therapeutic training program designed to improve the cognitive functioning of individuals who experience cognitive deficits as a result of untreated psychosis, mania, and other symptoms of mental illness. The program engages individuals in a variety of computer-based exercises designed to improve memory, intelligence, brain speed, attention, navigation skills and people skills. The exercises change daily based on one’s progress and can be altered to meet the needs of each individual.