CBSST (Cognitive Behaviour and Social Skills Training)

CBSST (Cognitive Behaviour and Social Skills Training)

Improving social recovery and vocational functioning has become an important target of treatment for people with serious mental illness. Building upon two strong and previously validated evidence-based practices, Cognitive Behavioural Social Skills Training (CBSST) combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), social skills training (SST) and problem-solving skills to target functional impairments.

CBSST is a manualized, but flexible, intervention that teaches cognitive thought challenging skills, behavioural coping strategies, social communication skills, problem- solving, and compensatory aids for neurocognitive impairments. Consisting of 18 to 36 weekly group or individual skills training sessions, CBSST targets the range of multidimensional deficits that can lead to functional disability in people with serious mental illness.

CBSST is guided by a very practical treatment manual that describes each skill and includes at-home practice assignments and detailed therapist guidance to facilitate the learning and daily implementation of the skills.

Eric L. Granholm, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego, Chief of Psychology and Co-Director of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Services at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1991 at UCLA and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. At UCLA, he conducted research on neuropsychology, social skills training and family therapy for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since joining the faculty at UCSD in 1993, Dr. Granholm has been an active basic and clinical researcher in the areas of social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis, and cognitive neuropsychology in people with schizophrenia. He developed Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) together with Drs. Jason Holden (UCSD) and John McQuaid (UCSF) and has conducted several NIMH-funded and VA-funded clinical trials of CBSST for schizophrenia. He has over 125 publications and has been an investigator on over 25 federal and private foundation grants to study psychosocial interventions and neurocognition in schizophrenia.

Thanks to a generous educational grant from Ostuka Canada Pharmaceuticals Inc, we are able to run this training at a significantly discounted rate. Historically, the past 5 conferences have sold out quickly, so if you are interested in the training, please register as soon as possible.This will be the 6th time we've had the privilege of hosting Dr. Granholm in Calgary to train clinicians in this exciting modality. The inspiration to host CBSST workshops came from the observation that there were very few evidence based options to support some our most vulnerable patients suffering from significant functional impairments, cognitive deficits, and negative syndrome. Following the initial conference in 2012 we were able to support a host of programs in setting up their own groups, becoming the "CBSST of the north"! The beauty of CBSST comes from the elegantly developed manualized sessions and we have learned from experience that after the training, a motivated group can absolutely get this therapy up and running. CBSST is an engaging and rewarding therapy that is a positive experience for both clinicians and clients. If you are interested in setting up groups in your setting and would like some support, please let us know and we will help you learn from our experiences.

Host or Publisher Dr. Rory Sellmer