Psychosocial Treatments for Psychotic Disorders with Bebe Smith, LCSW

Bebe Smith will provide an overview of effective psychosocial treatment for schizophrenia and related disorders. Topics covered will include engagement; cognitive behavioral therapy; supportive therapy; group therapy; and family psychoeducation. The presentation will also include information on the special issues involved in working with adolescents and young adults in the early phases of a psychotic disorder, and recent research advances that indicate the importance of secondary prevention.

Bebe Smith, MSW, LCSW is the Director of Outpatient Services for the STEP Clinic, part of the Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program at UNC in the Department of Psychiatry. She has worked in the STEP Clinic since 1995. Ms. Smith, a graduate of the UNC School of Social Work, developed an interest in working with adults with severe mental illness during her internship at Club Nova in Carrboro, NC, and from earlier volunteer experiences in a psychiatric hospital in England. Her interests include implementing psychosocial treatment programs that will improve quality of life for individuals with psychotic disorders and educating mental health professionals. For the past ten years, she has provided clinical training for psychiatry residents and graduate students from the fields of social work, nursing and rehabilitation psychology and counseling.