Making a referral to the HOPE TEAM does not mean an individual is eligible. The referral process can take several months so please continue with current treatment and bridge services until we determine if the Hope Team is the best fit for the young person's needs.
Referrals can be made by anyone (Individual, Family member, or Provider) by calling 412-647-4321, emailing hopeteam@upmc.edu OR by completing our Online Screener and requesting to be contacted.
Hope Team treats young people ages 10-27 who are experiencing unusual experiences including seeing/hearing things, being suspicious of others and/or feeling like their surroundings are off or unreal in some way.
The Hope Team works with young people who are at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-p). CHR-p is when an individual is experiencing unusual experiences that do not meet criteria for a psychotic disorder. Some examples of unusual experiences including seeing/hearing things that others do not notice, feeling suspicious of others and/or feeling like their surroundings are off or unreal in some way. Unusual experiences look different for every person.
If we believe the young person may meet criteria for a psychotic disorder (ex: Schizophrenia), we will refer the person to a local clinic for more focused treatment.
The team can utilize six different approaches
Research studies suggest that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) leads to improvement in functioning and quality of life for youth with CHR
We can serve as the primary treatment team or provide consultation to existing providers