Our program is for teens ages 14 - 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, coupled with computer-assisted cognitive remediation to improve mental speed and focus, as well as social cognition. Teens who attend the after-school program at least 3-days per week also see our psychiatrist 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.
People age 18+ with above-average intelligence who are experiencing psychosis may be eligible to attend our augmented coordinated specialty care program. Our program was designed by our clinical team in association with community collaborators for both early and later-stage psychosis intervention. Our program is delivered in the form of intensive day treatment starting with 5 hours of treatment per day, 3 days per week. Exact hours may vary depending upon the patient's unique needs.
Our 4-month intensive and augmented coordinated specialty care program includes weekly individual therapy and small cohort groups, allowing focus on the remediation of the many cognitive and social deficits prevalent in young adults and those with later-stage psychosis. We stress independent life skills, hygiene maintenance, and appropriate personal interactions, in addition to executive functioning, improved social awareness, planning skills, distress tolerance, and individual engagement in treatment.
A private fitness trainer is available daily. Weekly social gatherings enable participants in the program to practice learned social skills. These social skills include acceptable hygiene, how to write an appropriate text and join peer conversations, and meeting expectations for continued employment.
Twice-daily computer-assisted cognitive remediation improves mental speed and focus. Adults participating in our intensive day program also see our psychiatrist for medication regime planning and management, as well as a therapist for weekly individual therapy.
We collaborate with an individual’s existing care teams without disturbing those trusted relationships. Our clinical staff helps our program’s students navigate getting back to college, choosing courses, enrollment, and achieving academic performance.
Families 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.
The California OnTrack Work Study aftercare program for people ages 18+ of who have completed our 4 month intensive day treatment. Participants engage in our work-study program to build on the substantial progress already achieved in the inital intensive 4 months of day treatment.
Our outcome data suggests that maximum long-term results are achieved by those who continue in our work-study program for an additional 6-8 months after the initial intensive day program. Work-study programming takes place during 4 hours / day for 2 days and then 1 day per week.
All aspects of the program stress Supported Education and Employment (SEE), which is a foundational component of our augmented coordinated specialty care model. We provide resources and coaching for achieving educational and employment goals. Participants are encouraged to apply and are supported in the process of returning to academics or finding meaningful work.
Extended psychosocial interventions combined with expert medication management enables those affected by psychosis to overcome the practical and psychological barriers to work or school. A combination of life coaching, assisted searching, practicing interviewing skills, and situational role play complement the social skills training delivered throughout our programming day.
Our family programs are multi-family groups offered throughout the year as virtual courses taught over multiple sessions. Our family courses address the dysfunction of the family support system for the benefit of the individual experiencing psychosis. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of family members or other supporting individuals to aide in the individual’s recovery by combining psychoeducation (teaching about the signs and treatment of psychosis) and readily learned techniques for improving communication and removing distress (such as by behavioral family therapy). Family of participants in a California OnTrack program are invited and encouraged to join bimonthly multi-family education groups led by our therapists weekly.
Throughout the year, we offer multi-family groups for people not associated with California OnTrack. These family courses are of varying lengths and are advertised when sign-up is open.
California OnTrack Early Assessment identifies individuals with average or above-average intelligence at high-risk for psychosis leading to schizophrenia, those in the prodromal stage, as well as after a first break but before a formal diagnosis. The majority of people assessed are 15-25 years old, although people outside of that range may also benefit from early assessment, depending upon the individual’s presentation. Non-invasive assessments are performed in our offices over the course of 1-2 days. We conduct thorough early assessments regardless of the presentation of autism, other developmental and physical disabilities, or co-morbid behavioral health symptoms or diagnosis.
Effective treatment requires early and robust assessment including a full history, family interview, analysis of past interventions, academic baseline and changes, and cognitive social and functional observation. Early assessment is individualized. Our team will often coordinate a variety of additional tests performed outside of our office by an assembled expert care team.
We often collaborate with healthcare professionals throughout the world to gather the most comprehensive data relevant for accurate early assessment. A clear diagnosis is determined after assessments are complete. The patient’s care team also shares with families a clinical summary outlining diagnostic results and therapeutic recommendations.
During the assessment, patients live independently, at home, with family members, or in a supportive transitional living environment. Families and individuals traveling to our offices from outside of our region, can contact us for help with lodging near our office location for the duration of the assessment.
