Our program is for teens ages 13 - 17 with average or above-average intelligence. We offer a coordinated specialty care program for early psychosis intervention. Eligible teens may attend this specialized after-school program two or more days/week. Participation in the program includes individual therapy and small groups concentrating on the many cognitive and social deficits that are prevalent in teens with continued psychosis. We stress life skills, executive functioning, improved social awareness, planning, distress tolerance, and individual engagement in treatment.
We teach teens using evidence-based modalities for people with psychosis, including computer-assisted cognitive remediation to improve mental speed and focus, how to test conclusions through metacognitive training, skills for social cognition, as well as individual resilience and distress tolerance skills. Teens who attend the after-school program at least 3-days per week also see our psychiatrist every other week for medication regime planning and management.
We collaborate with an individual’s existing care teams without disturbing those trusted relationships. Our teen staff is familiar with school coordination, IEP goals and meetings, as well as appropriate accommodation requests for teens with early and later-stage psychosis . Many of these supports are part of our overall teen case management for all teens in our after-school program.
Families with teens in the after-school program are invited to join our 16-week multifamily course to learn about the illness, recovery, and communication for a healthier long-term relationship. While this 16-week course is voluntary, success is often directly correlated to family participation, and it is strongly encouraged.
Teens who attend our after-school program typically live with family. Families traveling from outside of the region will need to arrange housing and school (or time off) for a teen to attend California OnTrack for Teens.