For Clinicians

What is Horyzons?

Horyzons is an online social media platform for individuals experiencing psychosis and receiving services at first episode psychosis clinics in North Carolina. The digital platform allows users to learn skills such as coping and mindfulness through educational and therapeutic material as well as connect with other young people who have had similar experiences.

Horyzons is a peer-led space. Users can request to chat with a peer support worker, and they may react or respond to posts on the community page. There are also Horyzons Hangs, which is a space for users to get together via Zoom every other week to chat and hang out for an hour or so and catch up or play games. These Horyzons Hangs are completely optional.

Horyzons is moderated. “Moderated” means that a group of clinical psychologists and graduate students will check the site daily to make sure it is a safe and welcoming place for all users. Moderators are like Horyzons guides who help orient you to the different aspects of Horyzons and call once or twice a month to check in and help you make progress toward your goals on the site.

While Horyzons is viewed as an additional clinical service your clinic can offer, it is a research study. It being a research study allows us to offer the unique and beneficial platform free of charge to individuals who would like to participate. As it is research, it is completely voluntary to participate, and users can stop participating at any time and for any reason. If a client is interested and would like to participate, they would meet with the study coordinator for the project. During the assessment visit, participants will go over a couple of documents, ask questions about the project, and (if interested!) give consent to participate and complete three short questionnaires. They will then create a profile for the platform and learn how to save it to their phone like an app.

Once a client is enrolled in Horyzons, they are connected with a clinical moderator who will help tailor content to each client’s goals for using the site. Users can engage with Horyzons as much or as little as they like, including using both the therapeutic content and social networking features, or just the side of the platform that they enjoy most. Clients will have access to the platform for at least 12 months if they decide to participate.

Downloadable PDF of Flyer found here.