PSYCHOEDUCATION

"Psychoeducation" takes place when a person learns about subjects that serve the goals of treatment and rehabilitation. In the psychoeducation process, I teach people about their problem, how to treat it, and how to recognize signs of relapse so that they can get necessary treatment before their difficulty worsens or occurs again. "Family psychoeducation" includes teaching coping strategies and problem-solving skills to families, friends, and/or caregivers to help them deal more effectively with the individual.

This crucial information allows individuals and families to plan and adapt around the reality of prolonged emotional or behavioral difficulty; it enables them to put the situation into perspective and to begin to modify their own lives as necessary. Participants are taught skills that change their lifestyle, enhance their therapy and assist them to live more productive and fulfilled lives.

Family psychoeducation reduces distress, confusion, and anxiety within the family, which may in turn help the individual recover. Children, adolescents and adults learn skills that will complement their therapy and may reduce the use of more costly treatment modalities.

I use psychoeducational methods and bibliotherapy when treating problems with anger, domestic violence, cult recovery, and serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolarity (manic-depression), and more.