Clinical Counselling In Primary Care

Clinical Counselling in Primary Care examines the complexities and variety of uses of clinical counselling employed in a medical setting. With an estimated 2 in 3 GP sugeries now employing a counsellor or refering patients on a regular basis, this book tackles key debates head-on. It discusses a range of important clinical issues such as: * therapeutic framework * clinical work as part of the greater whole * the need to develop suitable therapeutic models. Clinical Counselling in Primary Care looks at possible developments in the future and argues for the improvement of the standing of counselling in relation to other primary care professsions.

`Useful for the insights about introducing a new service into the general practice environment' - Family Practice Counselling practitioners in primary care settings have unique circumstances to contend with. This book offers practical guidance for managing the issues these counsellors face, exploring the complex dynamics of health care teams and providing a guide to the safe and effective practice of counselling in primary health care contexts. The book highlights potential sources of difficulty for this group, from needing to maximize therapeutic contact while using time-limited techniques, to working with a wide range of patients and problems and relying increasingly on evidence-based practi

Clinical Counselling in Medical Settings offers an honest examination of the possibilities and limitations of counselling in a range of medical settings and patient groups. It shows how each setting has unique features that influence the therapeutic process. With numerous clinical examples covering settings such as a rehabilitation centre, a pain relief clinic and a hospice, this book will prove essential reading not only for counsellors and psychotherapists but also to all mental health professionals.

This book deals with effective organization and management of counselling services—a clinical service. It is intended for primary care trust chief executives and directors and commissioners and providers of national health service counselling, pyschological therapy services.

From small beginnings in the 1970s, counselling in primary care has now become an established area of practice. It is well recognised that a significant proportion of patients in primary health care have psychological difficulties which are treatable at the 'coal face' before they develop into major problems. Mental health services can now reach a wider population more quickly with cost-effective therapeutic benefits. This text examines the intra - and inter-personal dynamics of primary care essential for counsellors and psythotherapists working in health centres and considers the advantage of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency collaboration. The progressive approach will be of interest to all who work in primary care. They will recognise in it many of their day-to-day working dilemmas, especially in trying to balance the tension between commitment to individual patients and the demands of the wider organisation. Case illustrations are used to demonstrate the challenges and teamwork opportunities for both counsellors and doctors who work collaboratively. This book is essential reading for counsellors and psychotherapists who work in primary care and for the doctors and health authorities who employ them.

This book covers two distinct yet related topics: the primary care setting and the counselling carried out within it, and it can be dipped into or read straight through. Part One, using psychodynamic and systems theory, explores the holding environment of primary care, the interpersonal relationships within the primary care team, and other variables affecting counselling in a medical organisational setting. Part Two takes the counsellor through the 'how' of using psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches within short-term contracts in this setting. Case studies and scenarios are given to illustrate these. The counsellor is guided through assessing the patient's counselling needs either within a psychodynamic or CBT model or to formulate a 'tailor-made' short-term contract, using elements drawn from psychodynamic, CBT, and supportive counselling.

Many GPs now employ counsellors to help them with the psychological and emotional problems of their patients. The contributors to this book have wide experience of counsellor attachments and have been involved in developing and promoting GP counselling on a nation-wide scale. They explore the counsellor's role in general practice and investigate the issues involved, giving practical guidance which will be invaluable to those wishing to set up a counselling service.

There is increasing development and use of care pathways and a growing demand for guidance and advice on how to develop them. This practical guide meets this demand. It reflects the latest experience and incorporates best practice with contributions from highly experienced members of the National Pathways Association. It links well with the coming National Service Frameworks and National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance. Case studies legal questions and common difficulties are all included and examined. Developing Care Pathways is in two parts: the handbook which defines and describes pathways and the roles of healthcare professionals involved with them and the tool kit which provides a detailed step-by-step guide to developing a care pathway. This work is essential reading for managers and clinicians in organisations developing care pathways throughout secondary and primary care.