Research and Practice Roles for Counseling Psychologists in Health Care Settings

Abstract

This article reviews applications of counseling psychology to problems of physical health. Three areas of application are considered, chosen to illustrate ways in which traditional emphases of counseling psychology-counseling and psychoeducational models of direct service, counseling skills training, and consultation -can be used to prevent or remediate problems of physical health and illness. In addition to describing these applications, special issues of psychological practice in health care settings are considered, with particular emphasis on stresses on ethics and service delivery guidelines, decision-making criteria within medical settings, and multidisciplinary conflicts.