This paper describes two cases involving the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to treat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. In both cases the individuals were experiencing acute psychotic symptoms during their first admission to hospital. Each case illustrates how CBT was used to tackle a particular issue pertinent to the delivery of treatment at this early stage in the development of an individual's experiences of psychotic symptoms. Case one describes therapy with a young person of 17 where developmental issues are pertinent; case two describes the use of therapy to engage a person whose symptoms have ostensibly remitted. In both cases the promotion of understanding of the origin of their experiences was vital to the conduct of therapy. The implications of these issues to conducting therapy with this client group and the methods used to overcome them are discussed with reference to the future developments of cognitive behavioural therapy for use with this client group.