LEAP (Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner)® is a set of evidence-based practices that create therapeutic alliances and trusting relationships with people suffering from severe mental illness. Designed to build and strengthen mutual respect, it helps people who are non-adherent, or partially adherent, to become more cooperative and engaged in treatment and services, including medication, psychotherapy, psychosocial programs, club houses, peer-support, and supervised housing.

The mission of The LEAP Institute is to transform the healthcare, educational and government systems by providing evidence-based education, training and ongoing support to individuals and organizations involved in the care and safety of people suffering from severe mental illness, including:

  • Mental Healthcare Professionals
  • Criminal Justice Professionals
  • Peer Support Specialists
  • Family Caregivers

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The LEAP® Course is a 2-4 hour facilitator-led training workshop designed to provide participants the (A) critical research and (B) skillset required to create a therapeutic alliance and build a collaborative relationship with persons who have severe mental illness, that lead to the acceptance of treatment and services.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will learn to:

  • Distinguish between anosognosia vs “denial” of mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia, bipolar disorders)—a debilitating symptom prevalent in 50% of individuals with these disorders.
  • Utilize evidence-based approaches, set aside psycho education and logical arguments, and instead focus entirely on developing a relationship with the mentally ill person so s/he feels respected, not judged and trusts the other person’s opinion that treatment would be beneficial to reaching personal goals.
  • Name the most effective forms of frontline treatments and pharmacotherapy on improving insight for person with anosognosia.
  • Preserve and build on relationship/ alliance when disrupted by disagreements, paranoia, involuntary treatment, etc.
  • Reduce anger, paranoia, and quickly gain cooperation and compliance.
  • Collaborate with the mentally ill person to work towards common goals.
  • Identify the “Top Two Predictors” of treatment adherence.

Application for Continuing Education Units will be the responsibility of the Requesting Agency.  All information needed to apply for Continuing Education Units will be provided by request. 

To request a LEAP Training please fill out the form below

For more information or questions, send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] 

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If you are not a DBHDD Contracted Provider, please give an explanation as to how your work is connected through DBHDD.

Please note this is a group training. Minimum class size is 15 and maximum training class size is 30. 

If class size is greater than 30 attendees, more than 1 training will need to be scheduled. Multiple trainings are ideally scheduled on the same day (AM and PM) or on adjacent days to allow for one trip by trainer. 

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