Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy with Adolescents: Aspirations and Empowerment

In this course, Dr. Ellen Inverso (PSYD, licenced psychologist, co-developer of CT-R) illustrates the role that stigma (both internal and external) and identity concerns play in working with adolescents with mental health issues. The need is to keep young people engaged in treatment so that first episodes of psychosis and mental health challenges do not worsen. Dr. Inverso shows how recovery-oriented cognitive therapy, in its capacity to personalise the treatment plan for each client and in its emphasis on strengthening their aspirations, is highly effective at helping young people move past trauma, regain a sense of agency, and strengthen adaptive mode to live a life aligned with their values. Dr. Inverso goes over the five core components of CT-R and how these can work together to build hope (based on purpose) and strengthen resilience. She poses many examples of questions that can be asked to adolescent clients to work in this way.