Personal Experiences of Psychological Therapy for Psychosis and Related Experiences / Edition 1

by Peter Taylor, Olympia Gianfrancesco, Naomi Fisher

Overview

For those struggling with experiences of psychosis, therapy can be beneficial and even life changing. However, there is no single type of therapy, and a great range and diversity of therapeutic approaches have been developed to help different individuals’ needs, which makes deciding which approach is most helpful for an individual not a straightforward choice. Personal Experiences of Psychological Therapy for Psychosis and Related Experiences uniquely presents personal accounts of those who have received therapy for psychosis alongside professional clinical commentary on these therapies, giving multiple perspectives on what they involve and how they work.

Presented in a clear and accessible way, each chapter includes accounts of a variety of different therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, trauma-focused therapy, open dialogue, and systemic family therapy. The reader is encouraged to explore not only the clinical basis for these therapies but also understand what the treatments mean for the person experiencing them, as well as their challenges and limitations. The book also explores the importance of the individual’s relationship with the therapist. As a whole, the perspectives presented here provide unique insight into a range of widely used psychological therapies for psychosis.

With its special combination of personal experiences and concise introductions to different therapies, this book offers a valuable resource for academics and students of psychiatry, clinical psychology, psychotherapy, mental health care and mental health nursing. It will also be essential reading for those considering treatment, their friends and families, as well as mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and nurses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138090507
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/24/2019
Series:	The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis Book Series
Pages:	218
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Peter Taylor is a clinical psychologist and lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Manchester, UK. His research includes a focus on interventions and therapy for those with experiences of psychosis as well as better understanding the causes of self-harm and suicide.

Olympia Gianfrancesco is an ‘expert by experience’ in psychosis, and has given talks about her experiences at conferences and on university courses. During her PhD, she researched the interaction between genes and environment in the context of psychosis. Olympia now works as a researcher in genetics at the University of Edinburgh, UK.

Naomi Fisher is a lecturer of mental health at the University of Lancaster, UK. Her research focuses on better understanding and reducing mental distress, and involves working closely alongside those affected by mental health difficulties in order to co-develop ways to promote mental health and wellbeing.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Brief Biographies of All Contributors; Chapter 1: Introduction to the Book, Peter Taylor and Olympia Gianfrancesco; Chapter 2: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Yarburgh and Peter Taylor; Chapter 3: Systemic Family Therapy, Zara Zaks and Pekka Borchers; Chapter 4: Care Co-ordination, Junaid Sarwar, Siobhain Koch and James Kelly; Chapter 5; Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Alex and Claire Seddon; Chapter 6: Trauma-Focused Therapy using cognitive-behavioural and EMDR approaches, Rebecca, Joanna Ward-Brown and David Keane; Chapter 7: Psychodynamic Therapy, Paul-Newell Reaves and Alison Summers; Chapter 8: Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mystic Leaf and Jon Crossely; Chapter 9: Open Dialogue, Nick Hayes and Niklas Granö; Chapter 10: Person-Centred Therapy, Jules Haley and Peter Chatalos; Chapter 11: The Relationship with the Therapist, Annie Blake, Amanda Larkin and Peter Taylor; Chapter 12: Conclusion, Peter Taylor and Naomi Fisher.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: This book presents the personal experiences of individuals suffering from psychosis. They discuss how various therapies impacted their clinical condition, as well as their relationship with their therapists.
Purpose: The goal is to provide "an overview and introduction to a variety of different psychological or 'talking therapies' that are aimed at helping people who are struggling with experiences of psychosis." The authors do it in two ways: "1) by sharing the first-hand experiences of individuals who have received these therapies; and 2) by sharing therapists' accounts of the therapies they provide."
Audience: The authors intend this as "a valuable resource for academics and students of psychiatry, clinical psychology, psychotherapy, mental health care, and mental health nursing," while noting, "It will also be essential reading for those considering treatment, their friends and families, as well as mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, and nurses." The book meets the needs of its intended audience. The authors include a woman who has experienced psychosis since the age of 16 and has received various therapies. She later completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool and now works as a researcher in genetics at the University of Edinburgh.
Features: The book notes there are a wide range of therapies available for the treatment of psychosis and provides first-hand accounts of the illness process. One client talks about his experience of psychosis and the benefit of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can be helpful by addressing the individual's belief system and conducting real world experiments. Another discusses how her symptoms decreased with systemic family therapy. A practitioner of systemic family therapy notes that this is a collaborative process to strengthen hope. Care coordination is a standard treatment for psychosis in the United Kingdom, which provides resources for the patient and the family. One client reports that cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) assisted him in self-discovery, which helped him make changes in his life especially related to relationships patterns. Trauma-focused therapy using CBT and EMDR helped another client to return to work. Therapists in this tradition believe this is a flexible approach, although clients may have difficulty with traumatic memories. A client receiving psychodynamic therapy sees it as effective yet time consuming. A therapist who uses psychodynamic therapy notes that advantages of this approach are its focus on emotion and unconscious factors. Person-centered therapy helps clients establish a good working relationship with the therapist, along with validating their experiences. The book ends with a description of the qualities of a good therapist and the importance of effective techniques.
Assessment: This book provides the perspectives of clients and therapists about various theoretical approaches for the treatment of psychosis and discusses advantages and disadvantages of each. The significant feature is that the clients share what was most helpful in their treatment.

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