Consultation In Community, School, And Organizational Practice

Offering an historical perspective on the development of mental health consultation and community mental health, this book's intent is twofold. First, it describes and evaluates Harvard psychiatrist Gerald Caplan's innovative approach to consultation and related activities with respect to the current and future practice of clinical community, school and organizational psychology. Second, it pays tribute to Caplan whose ideas on prevention, crisis theory, support systems, community mental health, mental health consultation and collaboration and population-orientated psychiatry have influenced the practice of professional psychology and allied fields.; The text is divided into three sections: the first provides background information for the remainder of the volume; the second documents Caplan's influence on the way psychology has been applied in various settings; andthe last considers his contribution's present and past influence. The text is aimed at consultant and practising psychologists, community and school psychology graduates and professionals involved with community mental health services.

William P. Erchul is Research Professor in the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ; Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

The ideas, careers and contribution of Gerald Caplan; mental health consultation, community mental health and poplulation-oriented psychiatry; reflections on mental health consultation - an interview with Gerald Caplan; Caplan's contributions to the practice of psychology; Gerald Caplan's paradigm - bridging psychotherapy and public health practice; Gerald Caplan's conceptual and qualitative contributions to community psychology - views from an old timer; a school reform process for at-risk students - applying Caplan's organizational  consultation principles to guide prevention, intervention and home-school collaboration; consulting on innovation and change with public mental health organization - the Caplan approach; assessing the present and future impact of Caplan's contributions; Caplan's ideas and the future of psychology in the schools.