Service Configurations for Psychosis

How to get Involved

Would you like to get involved?

Are you someone who has had experience of psychosis or experiences that are like psychosis (e.g. voices and visions)?

Or are you a friend, family member or supporter of someone who has had these experiences?

Or are you leading or delivering a service supporting people with these experiences?

AND do you live in the UK?

You might like to take part in our research project looking at what is helpful for people who have these experiences

If you take part, you can choose to:

  • Attend a creative workshop about services, support and recovery
  • Register your interest in having an interview.
  • Join our email list

To  find out more, or to book a place in our workshop please contact Jenny Monkhouse at psychosisresearch@canterbury.ac.uk or scan the QR code below

This does not commit you to taking part.

Improving Support for Recovery

To provide the best possible care for people experiencing psychosis, we need to understand what truly helps. Our research explores how services can combine formal and informal supports, therapies, and social factors to give people the best chance of recovery.

Why does this matter?

Traditional treatments, like medication, remain central, but newer research highlights the importance of addressing trauma, stress, and social needs. A more holistic approach—including psychotherapy, education, and employment support—could transform outcomes.

So, how can services evolve to better support recovery for everyone, regardless of background? Our research aims to find out.

The Background

People with severe mental health difficulties like voice-hearing, visions, or unusual beliefs may be diagnosed with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Medication is the primary treatment, but newer research challenges the notion of lifelong illness, suggesting the need to address trauma and interpersonal stress.

There is a need for more holistic services incorporating psychotherapies and support for work and education.

Our Research Question

How should services be configured to best use formal and informal supports and therapies for different people experiencing psychosis, and why?

Our Aims and Objectives

  • To understand and produce clear explanations of how people recover when they experience psychosis. We recognise that recovery is different for different people.
  • To produce clear explanations of how services can improve recovery rates and ensure everyone has an equal chance of recovery across different ethnicities.
  • To plan how to change services and apply for further funding to make these changes and see if this helps more people recover.

Here are all the people involved in the project

Dr Holttum leads the project. She is a member of the clinical psychology doctorate team at Canterbury Christ Church University’s Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology. She also works part-time for the British Association of Art Therapists, supporting research in art therapy.

Professor Burton is co-leader of the project. He is Dean of the School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia. He is a registered nurse with an extensive track record of research funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research.

Jennifer Monkhouse is the Senior Research Fellow on this project. As well as being an experienced public health researcher, she has a background in the Early Years, family support and further education. Jenny has a keen interest in Social and Community Psychology, mental health in contemporary societies, and youth vulnerabilities. She is also developing expertise in evaluating services, interventions, and their methodologies.

Continue reading “Our Team”