The Collaborative Psychotherapist: Creating Reciprocal Relationships with Medical Professionals

by Nancy Breen Ruddy, William B. Gunn, Dorothy A. Borresen

Overview

While it is common knowledge that physical illness affects mental wellbeing and vice versa, there has been a surprising lack of cooperation between psychotherapists and MDs in serving patients' needs. The Collaborative Psychotherapist provides step-by-step guidance on how psychotherapists can work with their medical colleagues on a routine basis. The authors interview four veteran therapists and one medical doctor who provide valuable insider knowledge of how to collaborate successfully. The volume authors also provide advice on how therapists can extend their skills to collaborate more intensively on complex cases that may involve specialists. Case studies, model letters of introduction, suggestions for follow-up communication, and checklists of medical issues to consider when evaluating patients contribute further to illustrating creative and practical ways to work with medical professionals and improve patient care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433803383
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	01/28/2008
Series:	Psychologists in Independent Practice Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     ix
Introduction: Becoming a Collaborative Psychotherapist     3
Routine Collaboration     21
The Hidden Benefits of Collaboration     23
Primary Care: Where the Patients Are     39
The Nuts and Bolts of Routine Collaboration     55
Intensive Collaboration     71
Challenging Patients, Challenging Interactions     73
Strategies and Techniques in Intensive Collaboration     95
Colocating With Medical Professionals: A New Model of Integrated Care     115
Clinical Examples of Collaboration     135
Too Many Stressors: A Case of Major Depression at Midlife     139
The Underachieving Son: A Case of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder     149
The Best Little Girl in the World: A Case of Anorexia Nervosa     157
A Man Loses His Identity: A Complex Case of Chronic Pain, Disability, and Depression     167
Collaboration in the Real World: Interviews With Collaborative Health Care Professionals     177
Collaborative Private Practice     181
Collaborative Primary Care Medical Practice     189
Collaborative Managed Care     195
Collaborative Primary Care Mental Health     205
Collaborative Crisis Services     215
Afterword     221
Medical Problems Associated With Psychiatric Symptoms     225
Psychiatric Side Effects of Commonly Used Medications     229
The Collaborative Psychotherapist's Toolbox     233
Additional Resources     239
Questions to Elicit the Patient's and Family's Story     241
References     243
Index     251
About the Authors     265