Treatment Principles

Chapter 2 provides the theoretical foundation and goals that inform the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR). NEAR is a method of cognitive remediation that was developed for psychiatric patients. This group-based treatment provides highly individualized learning by allowing each person in the group to work at his own pace on tasks carefully chosen to be engaging and to address cognitive and learning needs. The NEAR program structure is described along with an explanation of the treatment principles and what the sessions look like. The evidence base for using NEAR is reviewed. Research indicates that participation in NEAR affects the client’s cognitive skills and psychosocial functioning.