Sri Lankan Psychiatrist Trained in Culturally Adapted CBT for Psychosis at TRANSLATE Workshop in Lahore

05/15/2025 00:00:00

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As part of ongoing capacity building under the TRANSLATE Project, Dr. Chandanie Senadheera from Sri Lanka participated in a three-day CBT for Psychosis (CBT-P) workshop held from April 28 to 30, 2025, at Fountain House, Lahore, Pakistan.

Organized by the Pakistan Association of Cognitive Therapists (PACT) in collaboration with partner organizations, the workshop was led by internationally renowned expert Professor Dr. Farooq Naeem. The training aimed to strengthen practical skills in delivering culturally adapted cognitive behavioral interventions for individuals experiencing psychosis.

The workshop covered a range of key topics, including:

• Foundations of CBT-P and conceptual frameworks such as the stress-vulnerability model and bio-psycho-social model
• Case formulation using the 4Ps approach (Predisposing, Precipitating, Perpetuating, and Protective factors)
• Techniques to work with delusions and hallucinations, including behavioral experiments, befriending, normalization, and psychoeducation
• The use of Socratic questioning and structured assessments to engage clients and collaboratively explore beliefs

Training methods included live role-plays, facilitator demonstrations, and small group discussions, providing hands-on experience in using CBT-P tools relevant to Work Package 2 (WP2) of the TRANSLATE study. WP2 focuses on the implementation and evaluation of early intervention services for psychosis in Sri Lanka and other LMICs.

Dr. Senadheera’s participation contributes to strengthening Sri Lanka’s clinical capacity to deliver effective, evidence-based psychological interventions for psychosis that are sensitive to local cultural contexts.