Medical and Psychiatric Issues for Counsellors

Counselors often encounter situations where clientsÆ medical or psychiatric conditionsùand their treatmentùimpinge on the assessment of or ongoing work with that client. This clearly written and accessible bookùthe first comprehensive overview of its kind aimed specifically at counselorsùprovides a solid basis of knowledge of these key areas and presents clear guidelines for judging when a situation may be beyond the counselorÆs competence. The authors examine the effects of medical psychiatric conditions and their treatment on counseling, including diagnostic guides, information about issues such as how to recognize serious physical or mental health problems, how to deal with a medical emergency when it arises in a session, how to help clients deal with medical dilemmas such as HIV testing, which psychiatric conditions can be exacerbated by counseling, and the importance of being aware of the side-effects of drug treatments. Further important chapters consider issues counselors must be aware of in assessment at the point of referral and in ongoing counseling. Ethical and legal issuesùincluding confidentiality, counselor responsibility, and competenceùare addressed throughout. Practical, jargon-free, and accessible, Medical and Psychiatric Issues for Counselors will be an indispensable guide for all trainee and practicing counselors as well as others in the helping professions who counsel clients.