Psychosis can be associated with a variety of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, severe depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders. While traditional treatments for psychosis have emphasized medication-based strategies, evidence now suggests that individuals affected by psychosis can greatly benefit from psychotherapy.
Treating Psychosis is an evidence-based treatment guide for mental health professionals working with individuals affected by psychosis. Using a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach that incorporates acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and mindfulness approaches, this book is invaluable in helping clinicians develop effective treatment for clients affected by psychosis. The guide provides session-by-session clinical interventions for use in individual or group treatment on an inpatient, outpatient, or community basis.
The book features 40 reproducible clinical practice forms and a companion website with additional downloadable clinical forms and tools, guided exercises, case examples, and resources. The therapeutic approaches presented are rooted in theory and research, and informed by extensive clinical experience working with client populations affected by psychosis. The approaches outlined in this book offer clinicians and clients the opportunity to partner in developing therapeutic strategies for problematic symptoms to enable those affected by psychosis to work toward valued goals and ultimately live more meaningful lives.
This guide emphasizes a compassionate, de-stigmatizing approach that integrates empowering and strengths-oriented methods that place the client’s values and goals at the center of any therapeutic intervention.

Nicola P. Wright's profile page

Douglas Turkington's profile page

Owen P. Kelly's profile page

Nicola P. Wright, PhD, CPsych, is a clinical psychologist in the schizophrenia program of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (The Royal). She also held the roles of chief of psychology and director of training for the Royal’s Psychology Residency Program and served as president of the Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs. Wright provides individual and group therapy, as well as professional training workshops, integrating acceptance and commitment; mindfulness; and compassion-focused approaches in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for people who experience psychosis. Wright is an active researcher and clinical professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa and a lecturer with the department of psychiatry, University of Ottawa. In addition, she is a founding member of the Canadian Association of CBT and a staff supervisor with the Beck Institute of CBT. Wright lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Douglas Turkington, MD, is a major research figure within the history of the development of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and founding fellow of the Faculty of Cognitive Therapy in Philadelphia. He has written more than one hundred articles and more than half a dozen books on the subject of CBT for psychosis. Turkington lives in Newcastle, England.

Owen Kelly, PhD, CPsych, graduated from Carleton University with a specialization in behavioral neuroscience and completed a postdoctoral respecialization in clinical psychology at Fielding Graduate University. He is a clinical psychologist, adjunct research professor in the department of neuroscience, and lecturer in the department of psychology at Carleton University. Kelly resides in Ottawa, Canada.

Dave Davies, PhD, CPsych, received his doctorate in psychology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. He is a clinical psychologist, serves as clinical professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, and is a lecturer in the department of psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. He is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Davies lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Andrew M. Jacobs, PsyD, CPsych, received his PsyD in clinical psychology from the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology: College of William and Mary, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in anxiety disorders at McMaster University/St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, Canada. He is clinical psychologist at the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group Anxiety Disorders Program, clinical professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa, and lecturer in the department of psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. Jacobs lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Jennifer Hopton, MA, is completing her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Ottawa. Her research and clinical interests are in the areas of trauma, psychosis, substance use, community psychology, program evaluation, and mindfulness. She resides in southern Ontario, Canada.

Foreword author Aaron T. Beck, MD, is the president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and University Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Beck developed cognitive therapy in the early 1960s as a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published over 500 articles and 19 books and has lectured throughout the world. Dr. Beck is the recipient of many honors from professional and scientific organizations, including America’s Nobel, the Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award.

“In Treating Psychosis, Wright and her coauthors provide the reader with a treasure trove of cutting-edge cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques for treating psychosis—all in one succinct volume. Reflecting the evolution of CBT for psychosis over recent years, the authors outline a comprehensive treatment plan that will aid clinicians in making the best use of the myriad psychological strategies that have proven immensely helpful for individuals living with psychosis. The integrative model described in the book expertly links core CBT principles with the latest in mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion-focused strategies, producing an innovative new approach.”
—Brandon A. Gaudiano, PhD, assistant professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and research psychologist at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI

“Treating Psychosis heralds a new phase in the development of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis. It describes an integrated approach to the application of third-wave therapies—mindfulness; acceptance and commitment therapy; and compassion-focused approaches. Evidence is gradually emerging supporting their implementation, and this manual describes very practical approaches to using them.”
—David Kingdon, professor of mental health care delivery at University of Southampton

“Building on both established cognitive behavioral research, practice, and treatment for psychosis and emerging work on acceptance-based and related approaches, the authors have put together a clear and highly practical therapist guide for the integrated treatment of psychosis. In addition to a comprehensive discussion of treatment processes and techniques, Treating Psychosis includes more than seventy pages of reproducible forms and handouts. This book is strongly recommended to anyone who treats psychotic disorders, either in groups or individually.”
—Martin M. Antony, PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology at Ryerson University and author of The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook