The PEER Program

Recovering from Psychosis

What will treatment involve?
Psychosis, like many other illnesses, is treatable! Most people who seek help can recover. At the PEER Program, treatment will involve: Assessment. The staff at PEER will meet with you and ask about your experiences and symptoms. This will help us figure out what kind of psychosis you have, so that we can help you to recover. Individual Therapy. Having someone to talk to can be helpful for everyone, whether they have psychosis or not. In individual therapy, you will meet with a therapist once a week who will listen to you, help you manage stress and solve problems, help you prevent further psychotic episodes, and help you set goals for yourself. Group Therapy. In group therapy, you will get to know other people your age who have similar symptoms. You will be able to teach them about how you deal with problems, and learn from them how they deal with problems. Medication. There are a number of medications that can reduce symptoms of psychosis. These medications can also reduce the distress that these symptoms cause. You will meet with a psychiatrist to find medications that will help you recover. Occupational Therapy. You will also meet with staff members whose job it is to help you with day-to-day things, like getting back to school or work, finding housing, making new friends, and getting financial assistance.

The PEER Program

Recovering from Psychosis
How long will it take to recover?
Most people recover from psychosis and lead successful and satisfying lives. However, recovering from psychosis can be difficult, and it can take time. Here are some things to consider when thinking about recovery: Usually, recovery from the first episode of psychosis takes at least several months. Using marijuana or other drugs can slow recovery and prevent improvement. Some people may recover quickly, but full recovery often happens over the course of several months or years.

The information contained in this document was adapted from factsheets compiled by the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) and NARSAD: The Brain and Behavior Research Fund. Original EPPIC factsheets can be found at www.eppic.org.au/fact-sheets, and original NARSAD factsheets can be found at www.narsad.com.