About the course

It is known that self-stigma is an obstacle to recovery for a person dealing with a mental disability. The course will teach the NECT (Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy) intervention, which aims to help reduce self-stigma and expand the narrative and identity beyond the disability.

This intervention, which is based on the psychoeducational, cognitive and narrative approach, takes place in a group setting and invites the person to become familiar with their self-perception, to learn together and to acquire alternative thinking strategies, which aim to challenge negative self-perceptions. The NECT intervention has been implemented in various countries over the past decade, including Sweden, the Netherlands, the USA and Israel.

Studies conducted in recent years indicate the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing self-stigma and increasing self-worth (Hannson et al., 2017; Roe et al., 2014).

 Course objectives

• The student knew the theoretical basis of the intervention to reduce self-stigma (the psychoeducational, cognitive, and narrative approaches)
• The student will acquire knowledge on the topic of recovery, stigma, and self-stigma.
• The student will acquire skills and tools to facilitate the NECT intervention.
• The student will acquire basic skills in group facilitation.

 Course structure

• Three training days (6 hours each) will take place during the course, two at the beginning and another day during it. The training days will include imparting knowledge about the intervention and the content worlds underlying it.
• Students will establish a NECT group one month from the start of the course and will lead it in the service in which they work (two students from the same service - at least one of whom is a professional).
• The students will lead 20 sessions of the NECT group over the course of about six months.
• There will be nine training and learning sessions (4 academic hours each), which will guide students in the practical implementation of the intervention during the course. These sessions will be held once every two to three weeks (dates will be provided in advance).

 Participants

The course is intended for 30 participants (at least 2 from each organization, at least one of whom is a professional), who will be trained as NECT intervention facilitators.

 Course requirements

• Attendance is required for 90% of classes.
• Establishing and leading the NECT group.
• Submit weekly reports to course instructors during the delivery of the intervention.
• Printing workbooks (manuals) for the number of participants in the group (the responsibility of the organization where the intervention takes place)

 Admission conditions

• At least one year of experience working in the field of mental health rehabilitation.
• Preference is given to two facilitators from the same setting – at least one of them must be a professional.
• Commitment to guide a group during the course in the service in which the participant is employed.
• Commitment to guide another group the year after the course ends (candidates must submit a declaration form attached in the appendix, which presents the method of implementation of the intervention during and after the course).
• A commitment by the service to allow the participant to guide a group in the service in which he is employed.

• The self-stigma reduction intervention was translated and adapted into Hebrew by the Center for Training and Research on Community Mental Health Services and Policy, Department of Community Mental Health, University of Haifa.

Course cost:

Cost per participant: 1,645 NIS. Ministry of Health participation: 3,785 NIS.

To register for the online course (2-3 face-to-face meetings will be held in Kiryat Ono) click here