Psychotherapy and Managed Care: Reconciling Research and Reality

This book presents an optimistic view of the future of mental health work, while providing a balanced look at both sides of the managed care debate. Managed care is portrayed as part of an evolution requiring the participation of informed therapists. This book is persuasive and practical, providing convenient access to an enormous amount of information clinicians need in order to communicate productively with managed care companies. The author emphasizes how using research findings can help therapists improve the quality of therapy while meeting the demands of managed care. A concise review of the crises confronting therapists and a discussion of some effective responses to them, this book addresses some of the field's pet, untested and possibly indefensible assumptions about how therapy should operate. Beginning by acquainting the reader with the philosophy and history of managed care and moving on to the pros and cons of the system, the book then provides practical information on how to meet the expectations of managed care organizations. Additional sections review general psychotherapy outcome research; using three general treatment strategies; specialized therapies for particular disorders and future trends and innovative practice directions some enterprising clinicians are pursuing. For practicing clinicans and anyone interested in mental health.