PSYCHOEDUCATION

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• PSYCHOEDUCATION
• WORKSHOP
• FOR FAMILIES

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Workshop Agenda

• 1000 am Light Breakfast
• 1030 am Workshop begins
• 1230 pm Lunch
• 130 pm Workshop resumes
• 400 pm Workshop ends

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Stages of a Psychoeducational Multifamily Group

Educa- tional workshop
Ongoing MFG Families patients bi-weekly for
1 year
Joining
Family and patient separately 3-6 weeks
Families only 1 day
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The Value of Employment

• An Opportunity to be part of the Community
• Increases Self-Esteem
• Reduces Stigma
• Contributes to Quality of Life
• Provides Structure to Daily Life
• Reduces Dependence on Public Assistance

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Myths about Employment

• Work is too stressful
• An extensive evaluation is required before
  working
• Sheltered Workshops are preferable to competitive
  employment
• Any work is better than no work
• People do not want to work

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Barriers to Employment

• Stigma/Poor Self-Image
• Stress/Deficient Coping Skills
• Loss of Benefits
• Lack of Child Care/Transportation/Stable Housing
• Lack of Experience/Education
• Inadequate Social Support System
• Deficient Communication Skills
• Mental Medical Illness/Drugs Alcohol

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Stress I

• Identifying signs of stress
• Anger/Irritability
• Anxiety
• Argumentative
• Social Withdrawal
• Insomnia
• Sadness

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Stress II

• Coping with Stress
• Avoiding stressful situations
• Learning to use stress reduction skills
• Develop/mobilize a social support network
• Cognitive Restructuring

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Factors that affect Work Capacity
Socio-Environmental Stressors
Psychological Vulnerability

• Preventative Factors
• Social Support
• Job Skills
• Vocational Rehabilitation Program

Impairment
Disabilities
Handicaps
Results from Rehabilitation
Good
Bad
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Specific Employment Strategies

• Looking for Work
• Pounding the pavement
• Talking to friends/family for suggestions
• Internet/Email/Online applications
• Local Resources/CT Policies (FFI staff)
• Keeping a Job
• Working with others
• Difficult co-workers/managers/supervisors
• Appropriate on-the-job behaviors

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Employment (Basics)

• Gives and Gets
• An investment you make when you work at a job
• A payoff you receive from working
• Knows and Dont Knows
• Things about your job with which you are familiar
• Things you want to learn more about
• Sweats and No Sweats
• Parts of your job that cause stress
• Parts of your job that are your workplace
  strengths

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Employment (Advanced)

• Job Improvement
• What do you want me to do?
• When do you want me to do it?
• How am I doing?
• Staying Motivated
• Identify motivators and de-motivators
• Using your support system

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Family Psychoeducation

• Correcting Stigma about being unemployed,
  underemployed, single mom, victim of domestic
  violence, etc. and capacity to work/school, low
  SES, low academic achievement
• The value of and ways to provide Family Support
  in the Vocational/School process.
• Engaging Relative/s as sources of active, ongoing
  support in the Job/School Development process.
• Engaging Relative/s as sources of active, ongoing
  support in the Follow-up Support state once the
  client is employed or registered at school

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FAMILIES CAN HELP

• Learn about barriers to work
• Find ways around the barriers
• Provide a healing environment
• Have realistic hope
• Keep the whole family strong

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HELPFUL FAMILIES

• Accept the person as needing help
• Set realistic, attainable goals
• Include the person in the family
• Keep a loving distance
• Have a calm atmosphere
• Give frequent praise
• Give specific criticism

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FAMILYEVENTSAND THECOMPARISONWITH OTHERS
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THE EASIEST TASKS BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 1. MOVE FORWARD ONE STEP AT A TIME
• Recovery is a slow process
• Staying calm and relaxed is important
• Maintain optimism

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MAINTAIN HOPE
Functional Level
Time
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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 2. MAINTAIN A RELAXED ENVIRONMENT
• Being enthusiastic is normal ? do not get
  excited
• Disagreement and getting mad is normal ? do not
  get excited

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 3. PROVIDE ENOUGH PERSONAL SPACE
• Privacy is important
• It is okay to offer it
• It is okay to reject it

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
4. SETTING LIMITS AND NORMS -Everyone should
be aware of norms -With a few norms, everything
is clearer
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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 5. ACCEPTING WHAT WE CANNOT CHANGE
• Understanding what you can give up
• Do not ignore violent behavior

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 6. EXPRESS YOURSELF CLEARLY, CALMLY AND
  CONSTRUCTIVELY
• Simplifying things lead to better understanding

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 7. TEMPORARILY REDUCE EXPECTATCTION
• Use personal experience
• Compare this month with previous good months,
  rather than last year or next.

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 8. FOLLOW DOCTORS SUGGESTIONS
• TAKE MEDICATION AS PRESCRIBED
• Do not take medication that is not prescribed to
  you

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 9. REESTABLISH FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND DAILY
  ROUTINES ASAP
• Return to a good routine ASAP
• Maintain strong ties with family and friends

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
10. ABSTAIN FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL -Voids effects
of medication -Worsens treatment -Worsens side
effects
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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

• 11. DETECTING WARNING SIGNS OF STRESS
• Observe relevant changes
• Immediately consult with case worker or doctor

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PRIMARY PATHS OF HELPING FAMILIESCREATE AN
OPTIMAL SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
12. SOLVE PROBLEMS STEP-BY-STEP -Gradually
introduce changes -Work on one thing at a time
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Intervention Techniques IThe Problem Solving
Method

• Stop and Think
• Define the Problem
• Possible Solutions
• Evaluate each Solution
• Choose and Plan to Implement your Solution
• Resource Management
• Pick a Time and Do It!

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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

• FIRST STEP
• STOP AND THINK
• One must be calm before he/she can concentrate
• Once relaxed, we can use the problem solving
  steps to resolve difficult issues

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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

• SECOND STEP
• DEFINE THE PROBLEM
• It is essential to determine exactly what is the
  problem to have any chance of solving it
• Discuss the problem thoroughly
• Listen carefully to all everyones opinions

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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

• THIRD STEP
• LIST THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
• Include all suggestions without judgment
• The first solution might not be very good
• Everyone should provide a potential solution

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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

• FOURTH STEP
• EVALUATE EACH SOLUTION
• Examine the Advantages and Disadvantages
• Make a List of the Advantages
• Make a List of the Disadvantages

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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

• FIFTH STEP
• SELECT THE BEST SOLUTION
• The BEST depends on each person
• The solution with the most advantages and least
  disadvantages might be the best solution

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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD
SIXTH STEP RESOURCE MANAGEMENT -Identify the
resources needed to get the job done -Anticipate
and address barriers
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PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

• SEVENTH STEP
• CARRY OUT THE SOLUTION
• Decide the appropriate time and place
• Put in the required effort
• Correct any errors
• If it does not work, try again with a better
  solution

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PROBLEM SOLVING TOPICS

• Transportation
• Child Care
• Housing
• Job/Educational Development/Retention/Satisfaction
  
• Health
• Developing Support
• Socialization and Recreation
• Domestic Problems
• Stigma (social, family, etc.)