Speaker(s)
Terri Cooley-Bennett, LCSW, LSCSW, CCDP-D
Mental Health Professionals are increasingly becoming key members of interdisciplinary teams in healthcare settings. Studies on integrated care: integrating mental health and primary care systems (APA, 2012) are fairly new. According to the American Psychological Association (2012), “The U.S. health care system typically regards the Primary Care Physician (PCP) as the first point of contact for a client who is accessing medical services of any kind, whether the need is for basic health, mental health, or substance abuse treatment.” This article also found that 70-85 % of visits to the primary care clinic are due to psychosocial and behavioral causes (as cited by Gatchel & Oordt, 2003; Kroenke & Mangelsdorf, 1989). Clients are using their medical provider to not only meet needs for health, but for mental health and substance abuse as well. A Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) is available in some healthcare settings/clinics and the trend is growing to have mental health professionals available in primary care. How do mental health professionals work alongside medical professionals? What types of interventions are needed from the mental heath professional in the primary care setting? How do client’s respond to a BHC who is introduced to them by their medical provider? This workshop will examine behavioral health interventions that are the most effective in primary care.