Family Psycho-Education (FPE) focuses on how important it is to have a natural support system, and to have that natural support system (especially families) be involved in the treatment of people who have Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and other serious mental illnesses. One-third of people who have Schizophrenia live with their parents and 75% maintain contact with their families. Families provide financial and emotional support.

One area of growing concern is what happens when families can no longer provide the support needed by the individual. This can happen when family financial reversals occur, as a family ages, or as other things happen.

In Family Psycho-Education (FPE) families and people with Schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses receive opportunities to learn more about the mental illness that has so affected both the person and the family unit.

In the beginning (a period called joining) the program includes an educational workshop where different families attend together. The workshop contains information about the illness, how to prevent relapse, building a social network, and different employment options.

Also during the joining phase, family members and the person with the mental illness meet together (usually twice a week) with support staff. During this meeting as problems naturally arise, they are used for problem-solving.

In the second phase of Family Psycho-Education (FPE), members who have Schizophrenia or another mental illness are encouraged to move beyond stability, and to move more into community activities for part of their support.

In the third phase of Family Psycho-Education (FPE) the emphasis is upon building a sustainable social network which often includes the families of other group members. This helps overcome some of the social isolation faced by many of the families that participate.

Family Psycho-Education (FPE) is proven to reduce relapse and increases people's ability to problem solve. It is also proven to improve the quality of life for all involved.

If the educational component is done without the accompanying parts, relapse rates and family stress do not improve.