For ages, psychosis was seen as a sort of "kiss of death" diagnosis.

Living well with a serious mental health condition was seen as staying out of the hospital and on medication. Yet 'treatment compliance' alone is rarely a life goal.

Pioneers like Patricia Deegan spoke openly against this mentality. A psychologist who herself had journeyed through psychosis, she argued that people can live good lives with mental health conditions and that recovery is possible.

Along with Deegan, numerous individuals stood up to ignite hope through advocacy, peer support, and sharing stories of hope, while also supporting interventions to improve the lives of those affected.

Today, many practitioners have embraced the concept that a person can live a good life after the diagnosis of a mental health condition involving psychosis. ISPS-US, an organization that brings people from all around to discuss psychological and social approaches to psychosis, is one such group. Each year, at their annual conference, clinicians and individuals with lived experience join together to discuss psychological and social interventions for psychosis.

This is where I met Aaron Brinen.

Brinen is one of a team of psychologists who co-created 'recovery-oriented cognitive therapy.' Recovery-oriented cognitive therapy (CT-R) blends the message of recovery—that it is possible to have a good life with mental health conditions—with specific principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals get back on track with their life goals.

The therapy has shown success in........

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