Project UPLIFT (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts) is a home-based depression treatment program designed for adults with epilepsy. 

UPLIFT is delivered over the phone by a trained mental health facilitator and by a person with epilepsy. The program combines proven techniques of CBT with mindfulness. The goal of mindfulness is to help people change their relationship to their thoughts by viewing thoughts as passing events that do not necessarily represent reality. Based upon this “mindfulness-based” cognitive therapy for depression, the pilot study found the program to significantly reduce symptoms of depression among people with epilepsy.

Project UPLIFT has been effective in:

• increasing knowledge and skills, 
• reducing symptoms of depression, and
• increasing satisfaction with life.

Other potential benefits include:

• telephone delivery, eliminating the need for transportation
• anonymity permitted by telephone delivery, which reduces stigma
• group delivery provides for support from other people with epilepsy
• cost effectiveness due to group delivery and no need for transportation
• increased skills to minimize relapse

• Be 18 years or older
• Be diagnosed with epilepsy
• Be able to read and write in English
• Have access to phone for 8 weekly sessions
• Complete the screening tools

For registration form, click here.