Experiencing psychosis, or watching a loved one struggle with it, can be frightening. You feel out of control, unsure of what comes next, and you just want to find solid ground again.
Fortunately, New Roads specializes in treating complex mental health conditions that other programs can’t or won’t, including psychosis. Our highly-trained team meets clients where they are and builds a path toward healing.
Whether you’re a Utah native or searching for options out of state, we’re here to help you or your loved one on their journey to recovery.
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis isn’t a diagnosis on its own. It’s a symptom of a mental condition, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, and complex mental illnesses.
It disrupts how a person experiences reality and can include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. A psychotic episode can make it hard for a person to tell what is real and what is not.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), anywhere from 15 to 100 people out of every 100,000 develop psychosis each year. Though it can appear at any age, psychosis most often emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood.
For many clients and families, the hardest part is knowing where to turn for help. At New Roads, our mission is to foster healing that treats the whole person, not just the symptoms. Reach out to our team to learn more about treatment options.
Psychotic Symptoms and Signs
Psychosis looks different for everyone, but common signs include:
- Hearing voices or seeing things others don’t
- Strongly held beliefs that don’t align with reality
- Disorganized or hard-to-follow speech
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Suspicion or paranoia that interferes with daily life
- Sudden decline in hygiene, work, or school performance
If these signs sound familiar, either for yourself or someone you love, finding help is an important first step. Psychotic episodes can vary in length, from a single day to several months. Early intervention leads to better long-term outcomes.
Why Psychosis Treatment Matters
Left untreated, psychosis can disrupt relationships and careers. It can lead to unsafe circumstances for the individual experiencing an episode and those around them.
That said, psychosis is treatable. With the right support, clients can regain stability and learn how to live full, independent lives.
At New Roads, treating psychosis goes beyond symptom management. Our clinicians work alongside clients to rebuild relationships, routines, and a sense of self that psychosis can disrupt. This lays the groundwork for lasting stability and growth.
Our Approach to Psychosis Treatment
We welcome complexity. At New Roads, we believe every person deserves the chance to heal. Many of our clients have been turned away by other programs, but our clinical depth and specialized training enable us to take on even the most complex of cases.
Here’s what sets our approach apart:
- We say yes when others say no. We work with clients experiencing severe and persistent symptoms.
- We’re highly trained. In addition to completing more than 160 hours of specialized training, our clinicians pursue ongoing education to stay current with best practices in psychosis care.
- We’re in-network with most major insurances. We make treatment more accessible for families.
- We’re a non-profit, therapist-led organization. Founded by Eric Schmidt, a licensed therapist with over 35 years in behavioral health, our clinical decisions are driven by what’s best for clients, not outside investors.
No matter how challenging your situation looks from the outside, there’s a path forward. Reach out to our admissions team to see how our approach can work for you or your loved one.
Levels of Care for Psychosis Treatment
The path towards recovery looks different for each individual. Which is why we offer a full continuum of care to best fit your needs.
Here are the treatment programs we offer and how to know which one might be right for you:
- Residential Treatment (WRTH/NRTH): 24/7 structure and support, particularly during or shortly after an acute or first psychotic episode. This is usually a first step for patients experiencing psychosis.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Intensive, full-day treatment that allows clients to return home each evening while still receiving a high level of clinical support. This option makes sense once initial symptoms are stabilized, but daily life still feels out of reach without support.
- Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Provides clients with a structured, therapeutic environment that offers greater flexibility as they rebuild their independence. IOP works when clients are more independent, and they want to balance treatment with returning to their routine.
- Transitional Living Program: Temporary housing and support services that enable clients to transition smoothly into independent living. This program allows for important skills to be developed before clients are ready to return to normal life.
With different levels of care, we allow patients to enter our facility and move through programs as needed. Our admissions team is happy to talk through all of our programs and help you find which would best work for you.
Evidence-Based Mental Health Therapies We Use
In order to meet each client where they’re at, we create individualized treatment plans that incorporate a range of proven therapies:
Antipsychotic Medication Management
Our psychiatric team provides thoughtful, closely monitored medication management as a treatment for psychosis. Medication is administered to reduce hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, creating a stable foundation for therapeutic work.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is central to how we treat complex psychiatric conditions, including psychosis. Through DBT, clients focus on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills help clients build stability by managing intense emotions and staying grounded during distressing symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps clients understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. By identifying and challenging distorted thought patterns, clients can build new behaviors, even when symptoms feel overwhelming.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
Our ACT program supports clients with an entire team, not just a single provider. With the collaborative effort of certified therapists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, case managers, and program leadership, clients receive well-rounded, expert care.
Life Skills Training
At New Roads, we believe that recovery extends beyond symptom relief. We help our clients develop everyday skills to support long-term independence and stability.
These include:
- Routine building
- Communication
- Boundary setting
- Vocational/educational readiness
These important life skills are taught in a hands-on, supportive way, ensuring clients feel prepared, not overwhelmed, as they move toward life after treatment.
Our modalities are rarely used in isolation. Most clients benefit from several working in tandem, adjusted over time as their needs change.
Take the Next Step with New Roads
You don’t need to navigate psychosis alone. Whether you’re seeking psychosis treatment for yourself or a loved one, help is available.
At New Roads Behavioral Health, our clinical expertise and genuine compassion guide clients towards building lives worth living. Call our admissions team today to learn more about our psychosis treatment programs and levels of care.
Programs We Offer
WRTH
The WRTH program is for young women, ages 18-28, with Dual diagnosis. It has an emphasis on mental health, primarily borderline personality disorder. This program allows us to help our clients build a strong foundation for a bright future.
NRTH
The NRTH program is built to support, encourage, and inspire young men whose development has been impacted by severe mental health conditions. NRTH allows clients to work with their therapists to develop individualized treatment plans.
Outpatient
Our outpatient program combines individual/group counseling sessions, relapse prevention planning, and random drug testing, while still allowing clients to live at home and continue with their everyday lives.