Models of Consultation

Abstract

Consultation is a growing role for psychologists. In medical settings, consultation may come to represent a majority of psychologists’ time. However, psychologists wishing to adopt the consultant role must reflect on their training and specific issues that will impact their satisfaction with the role. These issues include personal comfort with the role, matters related to the type of setting, and factors derived from organizational cultural issues. Consultants must also make decisions about practical considerations that routinely arise. Consultants face choices about the nature of referrals, how to handle constituent needs, referral timeline preferences, and how referral requests should be structured. Consultants have to consider how to relate to teams and physicians, as well as how to most effectively communicate and make recommendations. In addition, consultants should understand the implications of hospital privilege status and reimbursement methods. Finally, consultants should be prepared to handle common psychological issues that typically result in referral requests, must have knowledge of the medical conditions of the people on whom they receive referrals, and should be clear about crisis management responsibilities.