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Psychoeducation
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Psychoeducation refers to the process of providing

H
education and information to those seeking or

E receiving mental health services, such as people

diagnosed with mental health conditions (or life-

L threatening/terminal illnesses) and their family members.

Though the term has been in use for most of the 20th
P century, it did not gain traction until movements
addressing the stigmatization of mental health concerns
L and working to increase mental health awareness began in
earnest.
GoodTherapy
E uses cookies
THE PURPOSE to personalize content and
OF PSYCHOEDUCATION $
ads to provide better services for our users and to analyze
Psychoeducation, the goal of which is to help people better understand (and become accustomed to living
ourAtraJic. By continuing to use this site you consent to our
with) mental health conditions, is considered to be an essential aspect of all therapy programs. It is
cookies.
generally known that those who have a thorough understanding of the challenges they are facing as well
R
as knowledge of personal coping ability, internal and external resources, and their own areas of strength
are often better able to address diJiculties, feel more in control of the condition(s), and have a greater
N
internal capacity to work toward mental and emotional well-being.

A One study showed psychoeducation, when administered to those with schizophrenia, helped to both

reduce rehospitalization rates and decrease the number of days a person spends in the hospital. This
B education is also a component of most trauma therapies.

Many individuals who have a mental health condition know little or nothing about the condition they have
O
been diagnosed with, what they might expect from therapy, or the positive and negative eJects of any
medications they may be prescribed. Literature on these topics given to them by medical professionals
U
may be confusing or otherwise diJicult to comprehend and thus of little help.

T OJered in both individual and group formats, psychoeducation can beneNt the individual diagnosed,

parents and other family members, and caregivers and friends. It is not an approach to treatment in itself
but represents an important early step in treatment, as it oJers those individuals involved in a person’s
care information on both how to oJer support and how to maintain their own emotional health and overall
well-being and provides them with the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of the mental
health concern(s) aJecting their loved one. Participating in psychoeducation may have a positive impact
on quality of life.

UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOEDUCATION PROCESS

Psychoeducation may be general or highly speciNed and can be provided in a number of ways, though it is
Psychoeducation may be general or highly speciNed and can be provided in a number of ways, though it is
broadly steered by four main goals: transfer of information, medication and treatment support, training
and support in self-help and self-care, and the provision of a safe place to vent emotional frustrations.

All of the following may constitute psychoeducation:

A therapist explaining to a person in therapy the ways a mental health condition might impact
function
A psychiatrist describing how a prescribed medication can counteract symptoms of a mental health
condition
A psychiatric hospital providing support and education to family members of those receiving
treatment
Formal classes designed to educate the population about both speciNc mental health conditions and
mental health in general
Classroom behavior management assistance for students diagnosed with behavioral concerns
Self-help and support groups designed to encourage those diagnosed with mental health concerns
to share strategies and information with one another.

Some people might receive psychoeducation through online or electronic formats such as DVDs, CDs, or
other audiovisual materials, though others may choose to participate in sessions with a mental health
professional.

HOW CAN PSYCHOEDUCATION HELP?

Psychoeducation, whether administered in a clinical, school, or hospital setting or through the telephone
or Internet, often leads to increased compliance with treatment regimens. When people who have been
diagnosed with a mental health condition are able to understand what the diagnosis means, they are more
likely to view their illnesses as treatable conditions rather than shameful diagnoses indicating they are
“crazy.” Family involvement in psychoeducation can also improve compliance and ensure that a person
experiencing mental health concerns is given adequate support while they receive treatment.

In addition to helping those diagnosed with mental health concerns better understand the issues they are
addressing, psychoeducation also plays a vital role in the destigmatization of mental health conditions.
Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have advocated for increased
psychoeducation for consumers of mental health services and their families. When people understand
more about mental health concerns–that mental health conditions are not the result of bad choices and
do not typically indicate a person is violent, for example—they are far more likely to accept people who
have mental health conditions. As psychoeducation does much to inform about the true nature of mental
and emotional concerns, it is an important aspect of this goal.

References:

1. Bauml, J., Froböse, T., Kraemer, S., Rentrop, M., Pitschel-Walz, G. (2006, October), Psychoeducation:
A basic psychotherapeutic intervention for patients with schizophrenia and their families.
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 32 (Supplement 1), S1-S9. Retrieved
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2683741
2. Psychoeducation: DeNnition, goals and methods. (2014, June 16). Retrieved
from http://www.aipc.net.au/articles/psychoeducation-deNnition-goals-and-methods
3. Psychoeducation/psychoeducational interventons. (n.d.). Retrieved
from https://www.ons.org/intervention/psychoeducationpsychoeducational-interventions
4. Reyes, C. Y. (2010, October 22). What is psycho-education? Retrieved
from http://thepsychoeducationalteacher.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-is-psycho-education.html
 from http://thepsychoeducationalteacher.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-is-psycho-education.html

Last Updated: 09-9-2016

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 2 comments Leave a Comment

Nora

July 7th, 2018 at 1:28 AM

really liked what i read it was very useful, Think I will go back and read it again. Thank you GoodTherapy.org for
posting this page.

Reply

melaia s.

July 23rd, 2018 at 8:53 PM

im a post grad mental health student who will be doing a psycho education on schizophrenia undiJerentiated
patient please help me with this

Reply

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