Improving Access to Brief Psychotherapy in Outpatient Psychiatry

What is it about?

After the COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing issues of limited access to mental health treatment and long wait times, the need for specialty psychiatric services has never been greater. Clinician-researchers developed the Rapid-Access Focused Treatment (RAFT) program in order to reduce wait times and improve access to brief psychotherapy and/or medication management services for patients with mild to moderate mental health concerns. Unlike other approaches to time-limited mental health treatment, RAFT services are provided within an outpatient psychiatry clinic, and prioritize patient preferences and goals.

Featured Image

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Case examples of two RAFT program participants illustrate how brief psychiatric treatment can meaningfully improve symptoms and quality of life for a range of patients. The report discusses lessons learned from the pilot implementation of the RAFT program, and offers guidelines for clinicians wishing to implement brief models of treatment which are both patient-centered as well as evidence-based.