Training

You will only need paper, pencil, a nice cozy place to sit, and you’re ready to go.

The program is basically held twice a week (an hour a session) on one on one basis. Morning hours are recommended, and it will be administered in a nice quiet room. If a private space is not available, avoid noisy area and find a space as quiet as possible for effective training.

What you will need	Paper and pencil Note: A coins, a deck of playing cards, a stopwatch, and a ruler are needed for tasks in each module.
Trainers	People who are experienced professionals in human services such as clinical psychologist, occupational therapist, nurse, etc. are preferred. It is necessary to read through the instruction manual and to watch a demonstration video beforehand. There is a standardized procedure to follow throughout the program but it is important to give positive feedback to the clients. The program is a “training”, not a test. If necessary, the trainer may give out correct answers during the program.
About clients	People willing to improve their own cognitive functions and those aware of their own cognitive problems, such as memory loss, are preferred. The program can be administered to people aged from about 15 up to 75. It is possible to administer the program with patients (including hospital inpatients) if they are in a stable medical condition.

Methods of training

Explaining the FEP and obtaining the client’s agreement

Before starting the training, give a brief explanation about FEP and what your client can benefit from the program. If your client finds it appropriate to proceed, the program will start upon receiving an authorization from the client’s doctor.
Note: The client will need to sign a letter of consent if he/she agrees to enroll in the study of FEP.

Tests

Before starting the program, you will administer a few tests for cognitive and social functions to understand the client’s current condition.

Starting the program

You may start the program once the client has done all necessary tests.
An hour long session will be held twice a week on one on one basis.

Completion of the program

The program is completed when the client has finished a total of 44 sessions.

Tests

The client will have the same tests he/she did before the start of the program.

Note: Above are all personal opinions.

Questions about starting FEP

How much does it cost to administer FEP?: It costs approximately 10,000 yen per client. The cost includes fees for A4 sized paper and writing materials.
What can I do to have my client motivated?: It unfortunately is difficult to proceed with FEP when clients are motivationally challenged.
Before starting FEP, our team talks with our clients about, for example, their trouble with memory loss or not being able to do things well because they cannot concentrate, and we encourage them to work on the program to improve the situation.
What can I do to get support from other professionals in my hospital about administering FEP?: We believe it is necessary to explain in detail about how the client may change and what aspect of the client’s cognitive functions you can expect to improve by administering FEP.
How long can I expect the effects of FEP to last?: There are various study results about the duration of the effect of FEP.
Results of our study team show effects lasting for six months in some people, but in others, effects seen in improvement deteriorated after six months. We have yet to draw a clear conclusion.
Is it possible to apply the program to other psychiatric disorders or in fields of education and welfare?: Our team is currently investigating the effects of FEP in schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and mild cognitive impairment. We are also considering its application for other psychiatric disorders and for use in schools and facilities for the handicapped.
Can FEP be administered in a group?: Although FEP was originally developed as a training on one on one basis, given the possibility of its application in clinical sites, we need to seriously consider its use in groups. We have recently started a joint research with a private mental institution to investigate the effects of FEP when it is administered in groups. We are planning to post the results of the study on our website.