Psychosis is often described in clinical terms—hallucinations, delusions, disconnection. But what if we started the conversation with something radically different: a hopeful treatment for psychosis grounded in personal goals, meaningful relationships, and possibility?

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Brinen shares how clinicians can support clients living with psychosis not by narrowing the focus to symptoms, but by asking one powerful question: What do you want your life to look like? His approach, detailed in Living Well with Psychosis, re-centers therapy around meaning, motivation, and movement toward personal goals.

From Clinical Trials to Hopeful Treatment for Psychosis

Dr. Brinen’s journey began in PTSD treatment but evolved as he trained with Dr. Aaron Beck and began working on psychosis-focused clinical trials for Recovery Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R). What he discovered was that people with psychosis were capable of extraordinary recovery when therapy centered on connection and purpose.

He joins us to advise clinicians on ways to prioritize aspirations like relationships, employment, and independence; goals that are too often left off the treatment plan. (If you want to hear more about tuning into our clients’ aspirations, listen to Episode 3 of The Self Careapist Podcast!)

Symptoms Are Only Part of the Story

Dr. Brinen explains the distinction between negative symptoms (like low motivation or emotional flatness) and positive symptoms (like hallucinations or delusional beliefs). But instead of pathologizing, he looks for the person underneath:

“We do hard things because they’re worth doing. Let’s figure out what’s getting in the way and move through it together.”

He uses tools like activity scheduling, exposure work, and connection-focused strategies to help clients track what improves their mood, energy, and confidence. These practical tools are cornerstones of any hopeful treatment for psychosis that seeks lasting impact.

Therapy That Feels Like Teamwork

Listeners will hear how therapy becomes a collaborative effort—something that feels more like joining a team than fixing a problem. And yes, that team may include references to Taylor Swift, movie quotes (well, the ones you don’t have to pay royalties for), and the occasional Shakespearean nod.

You’ll also hear why vivid, emotionally rich goals matter, like helping a client imagine the color of the dog they hope to adopt someday.

Families Matter, Too

In one of the most moving parts of the conversation, Dr. Brinen discusses how families often feel helpless and misunderstood. He emphasizes the importance of validating caregivers, and shifting their role back toward love and connection.

Why This Episode Matters

Psychosis doesn’t have to mean disconnection, despair, or a life half-lived. With humor, science, and heartfelt wisdom, Dr. Brinen shows us how we can rewrite the story of psychosis—not as a diagnosis to manage, but as a chapter of a much bigger, fuller life.

Tune in and share with clinicians, students, and anyone who believes people deserve more than symptom control—they deserve to Live Well.