Psychosis Treatment for Teens and Adults

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is when an individual becomes detached from reality, resulting in both mental and physical symptoms. The person may experience hallucinations and delusions, making it difficult to tell what’s real. Potential treatment options may include medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and inpatient treatment.

What causes psychosis?

Psychosis can be caused by a number of different medical conditions, including dementia, hormone conditions, infections, lupus, Lyme disease, and more. It can also be a side effect of mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. Psychosis treatments may vary based on symptoms and medical history.

How is psychosis treated?

There are several types of therapies that can be incorporated into a treatment plan, all of which follow a trauma-based, empathetic relational approach. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic therapies are often used in one-on-one sessions. Group sessions can also be effective in communicating about your experiences and alleviating feelings of isolation. In some instances, antipsychotic medication can help manage a client’s symptoms while undergoing therapy treatment.

How does Charlie Health treat psychosis?


Immediate availability 24/7 admissions

Medicaid and commercial insurance accepted

Short-term and long-term management

Virtual, home-based sessions

Personalized treatment

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Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

DBT is a treatment for psychosis that helps to improve emotional regulation and awareness to help clients improve their quality of life on a daily basis. This type of therapy also helps with distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

This approach helps clients feel more in control of their emotions and reactions for a better sense of well-being. The individual learns to release self-judgment while also creating a set of core values to commit to. ACT can be particularly beneficial for treating psychosis, as it supports better emotional regulation and reduces the impact of distressing thoughts and experiences often associated with the condition.

Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy for psychosis can reveal potentially early experiences in life that may have contributed to the client’s current symptoms. The goal is to improve self-esteem and learn healthy coping mechanisms.

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Meet your peers in groups and your primary therapist in as little as 24 hours

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FAQs about psychosis

See All FAQs

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is the term given to any condition or collection of symptoms that causes a person to detach themselves from reality. Examples of psychosis symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.

What causes psychosis?

Psychosis may be caused by mental illness, trauma, or physical illness. Alternatively, substance abuse, certain medications, and sleep deprivation may also trigger psychosis. That’s why it’s important to get a professional assessment in order to get the right treatment plan.

How long does psychosis last?

Episodes can vary in length, from just a few days to even months or years. For example, brief psychotic episodes are characterized as lasting less than a month, while schizophrenia symptoms last at least six months.

What does psychosis feel like?

Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, difficulty talking, cognitive impairment, and social withdrawal.

How to get out of psychosis

Treating psychosis typically involves a personalized therapy plan as well as antipsychotic medication. It’s crucial to work with qualified mental health professionals to navigate psychosis.

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