Our Program

First Hope offers services to Clinical High Risk (CHR) youth and to young people who have experienced a First Episode of Psychosis (FEP) within the past year. Our program is family focused and adapted to the needs of the individual and family. We define family broadly and include all who provide support to the young person experiencing symptoms and who wish to be involved in treatment.

Eligibility

• Resident of Contra Costa County
• MediCal, no insurance
• IQ>70
• Clinical High Risk: Ages 12-25
  • Meet clinical criteria for CHR
• First Episode Psychosis: Ages 16-30
  • First Episode within the past year

At First Hope we are a multidisciplinary team with the advantage that all services are coordinated and in one place. The team includes:

• Mental health clinicians
• Psychiatrists
• Nurse
• Occupational therapists
• Education and Employment specialists
• Rehab Counselor
• Peer Specialist and Family Partner

The specialized expertise of each team member allows us to respond flexibly to clients’ and families’ needs, which will vary over time.

At the beginning of treatment, each client is assigned a Clinician who will be responsible for coordinating services and will be the primary contact throughout the program. The Clinician will work with you to determine which services best meet your needs, which may change over time.

Services Offered

• Psychoeducation
• Individual psychotherapy, including CBT for Psychosis
• Family Therapy, including Open Dialogue
• Care Coordination
• Supported Education and Employment
• Psychiatric Assessment and Management
• Peer Support
• Rehab Counseling
• Multifamily Groups (English and Spanish)

Services are available in English and Spanish. Other languages available through interpretation.

Our family-centered treatment approach empowers individuals and their families to be active participants in their care, helping them achieve their personal, social, educational and occupational goals. We aim to do this in the most culturally sensitive and least stigmatizing manner that addresses the specific needs of each individual, their family, and the community.

Accessing Services

The first step is to call us! There is almost always someone available to take your call or to call you back within a short time. We will spend some time with you on the phone gathering information. We can tell you if an assessment is indicated and if so, set up a time to meet with you in person. Any concerned person may call us to discuss the situation.

Clinical High Risk is determined by an assessment interview which we will schedule with you if indicated.

First Episode Psychosis clients or family members may call us directly. If the potential client is hospitalized we might decide to visit the young person while they are still in the hospital. While we are not an emergency service, we give high priority to families in crisis so long as there is some willingness to engage with us and no imminently dangerous behavior.

If services at First Hope are not indicated, we can refer you to appropriate services.