Health Psychology And Counselling

Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Psychology and Counselling, held at Visakhapatnam during 13-15 November 2007.

ANNABEL K. BROOME The importance of psychological processes in the experience of health and sickness is being increasingly recognized. There is mounting evidence for the role of personal behaviour in current trends of morbidity and mortality, which is reflected in rapid and significant developments in psychological research. Patterns of illness and death have changed in recent years, with concurrent changes in demands on health services, the skills of carers and the adjustments of the sick person. It is within this changing scene that clinical and health psychologists are becoming increasingly involved in applied research into the prevention or alleviation of current health problems. These changes are also influencing the training of health professionals, with behavioural sciences now forming a substantial component of basic curricula in medical schools and other areas of professional training. This book has arisen from this chan ging clinical scene and the need to convey useful psychological principles to care givers. Part One con centrates on the general psychological processes that have relevance in many health settings, in the prevention, alleviation and management of illness, as weIl as current practices in health care delivery. As these developments have been patchy, Part Two focuses on selected specialties that have received attention. This book is not a comprehensive review of work done in all medical specialties, although the structure has been chosen to reflect the prevalent sub divisions of medical teamwork.

Becoming a Health Psychologist provides an overview of the different training paths students can take to prepare themselves for graduate school and careers in the field of health psychology. You’ll find tips on how to choose and apply for graduate programs as well as numerous practical examples such as emails to potential advisors and questions to ask during interviews. Throughout, the authors provide examples of different health psychology careers, along with references, resources, and first-hand experiences. It details what is involved in becoming a health psychologist, what a health psychology career entails, and how to reach that goal. The inclusion of tips from a diverse group of successful students, early career, and senior health psychologists makes this book an invaluable resource for anyone looking to start their career or for advisors who are counselling students about career choices. For many readers, this book may serve as "the mentor they never had".

Understanding Mental Health and Counselling provides a critical introduction to key debates about how problems of mental health are understood, and to the core approaches taken to working with counselling and psychotherapy clients. In drawing out the differences and intersections between professional and social understandings of mental health and counselling theory and practice, the book fosters critical thinking about effective and ethical work with mental health service users and therapy clients. With chapters by noted academic writers and service-user researchers, and content enlivened by activities, first-person accounts and case material, the book provides a key resource for both counselling and psychotherapy trainees and those interested in the broader field of mental health.

Roles and Contexts in Counselling Psychology looks at the different contexts that counselling psychologists typically work within, offering a snapshot of the ‘day job’. The book provides insights into roles that reflect the human lifespan from birth to death, focusing upon specific mental health experiences and considering roles external to healthcare settings such as expert witness and independent practice. Each chapter is written by a counselling psychologist and offers an overview of their particular specialism and their experiences within it, bringing a unique transparency and personal insight. The book describes the skills that are required for the different roles and their challenges and rewards. It also discusses how the philosophy of counselling psychology is maintained and explores the associated ethical and legal considerations. Further, it takes note of the issues relating to leadership and diversity. The book is an essential resource for undergraduate psychology and counselling students and trainee clinical or counselling psychologists, as well as qualified practitioners.

Features chapters that address the context of health care provision, stress, and cardiac disorders. This book presents theory first and application second, stressing the need for an understanding of principles before putting psychology into practice.

Recognized experts in theory, research, and practice review and analyze historical achievements in research and practice from counseling psychology as well as outline exciting agendas for the near-future for the newest domains of proficiencies and expertise.

North America’s Indigenous population is a vulnerable group, with specific psychological and healing needs that are not widely met in the mental health care system. Indigenous peoples face certain historical, cultural-linguistic and socioeconomic barriers to mental health care access that government, health care organizations and social agencies must work to overcome. This volume examines ways Indigenous healing practices can complement Western psychological service to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples through traditional cultural concepts. Bringing together leading experts in the fields of Aboriginal mental health and psychology, it provides data and models of Indigenous cultural practices in psychology that are successful with Indigenous peoples. It considers Indigenous epistemologies in applied psychology and research methodology, and informs government policy on mental health service for these populations.