Social Skills Training (SST) teaches communication skills, assertiveness skills, and other skills related to disease management and independent living. It has been shown to be effective for a number of mental illnesses, including serious mental illness. SST is usually conducted in small groups that are ideally led by two co-therapists.
More reading can be found here:
Kopelowicz, A., Liberman, R.P., Zarate, R. (2006) Recent advances in social skills training for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 32, S12-S23.
Bellack, AS (2002). Skills training for people with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 7, 375-391.
Glynn, S.M., Marder, S.R., Liberman, R.P, Blair, K., Wirshing, W.C., Wirshing, D.A., Ross, D., & Mintz, J. (2002). Supplementing clinical-based skills training with manual-based community support sessions: Effects on social adjustment of patients with schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 829-837.