Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia: A Step-by-Step Guide (Hardcover)

~ Alan S. Bellack (Author), PhD Kim T. Mueser PhD (Author), Susan Gingerich MSW (Author), Julie Agresta (Author) "If asked to define schizophrenia or explain it, you would probably refer to hallucinations and delusions, the prototypical symptoms..." (more)
Key Phrases: expressing unpleasant feelings, social skills training for schizophrenia, urinalysis contingency, Susan Gingerich, Leaving Stressful Situations, Unfamiliar Person (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Provides the finest coverage on the subject of social skills training for patients with schizophrenia that I have seen. It is thorough, very carefully organized, and clinically sophisticated. It is rich in detailed instructions, examples, and explanations....The volume is complete and nothing else is required to set up a social skills training program. The curricular skill sheets in Part 2 are written for the patients as well as the staff....Clinicians involved in day hospitals and day treatment centers, hospitals, and mental health centers who treat schizophrenia should read Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia and place it in their facility libraries." --J Clin Psychiatry
"This is a very well-written, practical book that systematically details information necessary for conducting social skills training for schizophrenic patients....The subtitle of the book, A Step by Step Guide, aptly describes the content....I highly recommend this book to all mental health professionals who treat individuals with schizophrenia. It might be especially valuable for psychiatrists who have not had the benefit of exposure to the behavior-oriented approach in their own training programs." --Psychiatric Times
"Eminently practical." --Readings: A Jouranl of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health
-- Review

...should be required reading for any professional, regardless of discipline, who works with individuals with schizophrenia. It is unique, clinically sophisticated, painstakingly data-based, and pragmatic. It is beautifully written, easy to follow and implement, and completely comprehensive. Nothing is left to chance, and all details are in place. It is a socially significant document, since it provides a means to improve the social functioning of schizophrenia clients in order to diminish the need for hospitalization. Indeed, the document is a message of hope. Given the two senior authors' long experience working with this most difficult-to-treat population, it is most apparent to this reader that they have been able to impart their hard-earned clinical secrets to the readership with consummate ease. I rarely have read a clearer or better text. My prediction is that this will become a classic in the field. As Johannes Brahms once said to Johann Strauss about one of his waltzes, 'I wish I had written it.' -- Michel Hersen, PhD, ABPP, Center for Psychological Studies, NOVA Southeastern University

Designed to facilitate group work in a range settings, Social Skills Training For Schizophrenia presents an empirically tested format and ready-made curricula for teaching essential social skills to schizophrenia clients. Part 1 provides a detailed overview of social skills training principles and methods. Chapters take readers step-by-step through assessing existing skills, introducing new skills, maintaining and consolidating gains, managing common problems with highly symptomatic, highly functioning, and other clients, and tailoring techniques to meet clients' individual needs. Part 2 comprises 48 clearly written and up-to-date skill sheets. Each skills sheet (a complete lesson plan in itself) explains the rationale for the specific skill at hand, breaks the skill down into three or four smaller steps, suggests role-play scenarios, and alerts clinicians to special considerations. Appendices include concise guidelines for orienting group leaders and members and conducting group sessions effectively, as well as sample assessment forms and other useful materials. Social Skills Training For Schizophrenia is an essential addition to all reference libraries for counselors and therapists working with schizophrenic clients and patients. -- Midwest Book Review

Review

"Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia is that all-too-rare example of a book which is both informed by rigorous research and inspired by clinical experience. The authors provide the most comprehensive manual to date for those practitioners interested in assessing and teaching social skills to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. In easy-to-understand terms, they have combined 30 years of social learning principles with very recent knowledge gathered from neurocognitive research to facilitate the successful implementation, application and maintenance of this critically important psychiatric rehabilitation modality. Of particular interest and value to practitioners who wish to learn the practical points of establishing social skills training groups, the authors describe how to motivate clients to participate, and how to organize the curricula and content of the training. Part II of the book has very specific 'lesson plans,' or goals for teaching a variety of skills that will be useful to persons with mental disorders such as schizophrenia; for example, getting a date and engaging in safe sex. The material of conversational skills can be used as an introduction to the more detailed and structured module for training Basic Conversation Skills that has been developed and validated by the UCLA Clinical Research Center for Schizophrenia & Psychiatric Rehabilitation. This book should serve as an effective tool in disseminating the technology of social skills training to a new generation of rehabilitation practitioners." --Alex Kopelowicz, MD, UCLA School of Medicine; Medical Director, San Fernando Mental Health Center; and Robert Paul Liberman, MD, UCLA School of Medicine

"Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia by Bellack, Mueser, Gingerich, and Agresta, should be required reading for any professional, regardless of discipline, who works with individuals with schizophrenia. It is unique, clinically sophisticated, painstakingly data-based, and pragmatic. It is beautifully written, easy to follow and implement, and completely comprehensive. Nothing is left to chance, and all details are in place. It is a socially significant document, since it provides a means to improve the social functioning of schizophrenia clients in order to diminish the need for hospitalization. Indeed, the document is a message of hope. Given the two senior authors' long experience working with this most difficult-to-treat population, it is most apparent to this reader that they have been able to impart their hard-earned clinical secrets to the readership with consummate ease. I rarely have read a clearer or better text. My prediction is that this will become a classic in the field. As Johannes Brahms once said to Johann Strauss about one of his waltzes, 'I wish I had written it.'" --Michel Hersen, PhD, ABPP, Center for Psychological Studies, NOVA Southeastern University

"...Provides the finest coverage on the subject of social skills training for patients with schizophrenia that I have seen. It is thorough, very carefully organized, and clinically sophisticated. It is rich in detailed instructions, examples, and explanations....The volume is complete and nothing else is required to set up a social skills training program. The curricular skill sheets in Part 2 are written for the patients as well as the staff....Clinicians involved in day hospitals and day treatment centers, hospitals, and mental health centers who treat schizophrenia should read Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia and place it in their facility libraries." --J Clin Psychiatry
"This is a very well-written, practical book that systematically details information necessary for conducting social skills training for schizophrenic patients....The subtitle of the book, A Step by Step Guide, aptly describes the content....I highly recommend this book to all mental health professionals who treat individuals with schizophrenia. It might be especially valuable for psychiatrists who have not had the benefit of exposure to the behavior-oriented approach in their own training programs." --Psychiatric Times
"Eminently practical." --Readings: A Jouranl of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press (June 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572301775
• ISBN-13: 978-1572301771
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #441,099 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for staff training and client work, November 14, 2007

By	Eric S. Blumberg "Ph.D.,LPC" (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia, Second Edition: A Step-by-Step Guide (TREATMENT MANUALS FOR PRACTITIONERS) (Paperback)

This book on social skills training is useful not only for schizophrenics but also for other clients whose treatment includes the need to use role play to teach various skills. I purchased it for use in a new Dual Dx program at our agency but immediately saw its use for training staff to do more role play in our CBT-based substance abuse tx program for all clients.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for clniicians working with this population, April 21, 2008

By	R. Schaffer (ny) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Social Skills Training for Schizophrenia, Second Edition: A Step-by-Step Guide (TREATMENT MANUALS FOR PRACTITIONERS) (Paperback)

This step by step guide is very clear and user friendly. It is comprehensive and by outlining the activities step by step, it's a recipe for success.