A Practice that Works

In the advent of managed care and the continuing decline in reimbursement felt across the various disciplines of mental health have had profound impacts upon the quality and quantity of care in the field. As it has become increasingly difficult for a practitioner in private practice to provide a satisfactory level of care while earning a living in the process, many clinicians have become more innovative in the services they offer their clients. This book pulls together a group of mental health professionals who have branched out into new markets and services. A Practice that Works represents an anthology of new knowledge in the field, as chapter contributors describe in revealing detail their own innovative techniques. After first describing the idea behind a strategy such as Wilderness Therapy Programs, the editors discuss the logistics of billing issues pertinent to the strategy and provide practical steps to its implementation, follow-through and development. Finally each chapter includes a 'testimonial' from the editors before considering issues such as any other implications of the strategy, how the strategy can fit into one's larger therapeutic model, and how this new way of thinking has impacted the author's life and practice. This timely book should appeal to professionals in all areas of the mental health fields, and is written in a general style that will not turn any of them away from the innovative lessons to be gleaned from such a unique compilation.

Steven M. Harris, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Associate Dean of the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University. David C. Ivey, Ph.D., is Director and Associate Professor of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Texas Tech University. Roy Bean, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Texas Tech University.

Ivey, Harris, Bean, Introduction. Part I: Educational Systems.Chappell, Springer, College Advising. Tillotson, Tillotson, Coaching High School and College Students. Dersch, Rappleyea, "Exchange Rate:" Providing Professional Services for My Children's Education. Part II: Medical Systems. Bishop, Springer, Mental Health Professionals Working in the Field of Pain Management. Shulman, Gillett, Enhancing Integrative Health Care Through the Use of Systematic Psychotherapy Rounds in Hospital Settings. Petro, Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluations. Part III: Media Systems. Piercy, Writing Columns and Features for Newspapers. Hargrave, McDuff, Expanding Your Income and Practice by Writing for the Popular Media. Part IV: Legal Systems. Heitler, From Conflict to Resolution: Building a Practice with Referrals from Divorce Lawyers. Middleton, Bean, Accessing a Niche Market: Contracted Employee Assistance Services for Federal Law Enforcement Personnel and their Families. Petersen, Child Focused Mediation. Russell, Adoption as a Clinical Specialty. Wichmann, Salisbury, Stotler, Murphy, Stater, Domestic Violence Groups for Children and Non-offending Parents. Ivey, Forensic Family Therapy: Is the Bridge Too Far? Part V: Therapeutic Systems.Larson, Brimhall, Marital Tune-ups. Zeine, Life Coaching. Derrig-Palumbo, Online Therapy: The Marriage of Technology and a Healing Art. McBrien, If You Build it They Will Come: Establishing a Parent Education Program. Barlow, Cornille, Cleveland, The DADS Family Project: A Psycho-Educational Approach for Therapists in Diverse Settings. Part VI: Business and Corporate Systems.Benningfield, Davis, Family Business Consultation: Opportunities for Family Therapists. Brimhall, Driskill, The Leasing Practitioner: Enhancing Your Income One Tennant at a Time. Harris, Research Consultation Services: Putting All of Your Graduate Training to Work. Eversole, Leadership Coaching.