Practical Psychotherapy skills for busy Prescribers (PPP)
Geared towards medical students, residents, physicians, psychiatric pharmacists, NPs and PA-Cs, this is a fast‑moving, high‑impact live, virtual series of 60-minute training modules for prescribers who want better outcomes, stronger alliances, and dramatically less burnout—without adding a single extra minute to their schedule.
These modules will provide you with a toolkit of micro‑skills you can use in real time, with real patients, in your busy daily clinical practice. You’ll learn how to:
• Navigate chronically late patients, overwhelmed patients, and “nothing works” patients with confidence
and ease
• Use behavioral psychology to boost buy‑in, increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes
• Decode defenses and countertransference before they derail care
• Prescribe with precision using psychodynamic pharmacology
Register for one or all modules
Week 1
Module 1: Childhood Matters
Date and Time :
Tuesday, April 28, 12 noon- 1 pm CENTRAL USA TIME
Readings:
Agrawal, H. Never See an Adult Again. Acad Psychiatry 46, 85–86 (2022)
Objectives:
-
Introduce/ re-familiarize learners with the ACES study and how it can optimize patient care and reduce burnout in your busy practice environment
-
Introduce/ refamiliarize learners with the concept of mirroring and what it has to do with your daily busy practice (using the Still face experiment)
-
Introduce/ refamiliarize learners with the concept of object constancy and why it is vital to integrate this into your daily clinical practice
Module 2: Framework Matters
Date and Time :
Tuesday, May 5, 12 noon- 1 pm CENTRAL USA TIME
Readings:
Krupnick et al (1996). The role of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy outcome: Findings in the National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64
Objectives:
-
Conceptualizing and utilizing your office space as a living, breathing clinical ally to achieve excellence in patient care
-
Introducing learners to Freud’s concept of leasing your time and how its practical application can bolster patient care, reduce your burnout and maximize your work satisfaction
-
Using a live, interactive role play exercise, learn how to treat patients with dignity and respect (while maintaining healthy therapeutic boundaries) when a patient shows up 28 minutes late for a 30-minute appointment
Module 3: The magical Quadrant of Pros and Cons
Date and Time :
Tuesday, May 12, 12 noon- 1 pm CENTRAL USA TIME
Readings:
Liu, P. (2024). Skinner’s reinforcement theory: Its application to teaching and learning in education. Higher Education of Social Science, 27(2)
Objectives:
-
Introduce/ refamiliarize learners to basic principles of behavioral psychology
-
Translate the theories into a low-input, high-yield live interactive exercise you can use even during short visits to help empower patients to make important treatment decisions, boost their buy-in, and reduce your burnout
Module 4: Practical skills for auditory hallucinations
Date and Time :
Tuesday, May 19, 12 noon- 1 pm CENTRAL USA TIME
Readings:
CBT for psychosis (CBTp) Handout (NEOMED)- working with voices and hallucinations
Objectives:
-
Using a live interactive exercise to introduce learners to lived experience of auditory hallucinations, with the goal to foster empathy, clarity and relatability
-
Practical skills to help reduce distress for patients suffering from auditory hallucinations (e.g., someone with Schizophrenia)
-
Introduce the learners to the quick intervention called ‘Boss Back the Bully of Hallucinations” aimed at empowering patients, strengthening alliance and reducing your burnout
Module 5: Practical skills to address severe anxiety about treatment (DTR and GTA)
Date and Time :
Tuesday, May 26, 12 noon- 1 pm CENTRAL USA TIME
Readings:
-
Handout-Bossing back anxiety using Dysfunctional Thought Records- Beck Institute
-
Handout- Graded task assignment (baby steps)- Beck Institute
Objectives:
-
Introduce the learners to the quick intervention called ‘Boss Back the Bully of Anxiety’ using evidence to challenge fears, with the goal to improve patient outcomes, strengthen their trust in you and reduce your burnout
-
Introduce the learners to the quick intervention called ‘Baby steps’ to help overwhelmed patients, with the goal of getting a patient buy-in and working together with you to achieve successful treatment outcomes