"A Psychologist's Proactive Guide to Managed Mental Health Care" offers a concise overview of the evolution of managed mental health care and its impact on the working lives of clinical and counselling psychologists. Although many books explore the ramifications of managed care for psychotherapy, this takes a broader perspective and examine the ways in which the new health care delivery system is affecting all aspects of practice - not just treatment but also assessment and training -as well as mental health research. The authors include some of the country's most noted psychologists with extensive experience in managed care. Their tone is optimistic rather than pessimistic; as they look at developments others have only deplored, they see potential roles and opportunities for growth for psychologists. In an era of dramatic health change, all those practitioners who are concerned about how to make managed care work for them rather than against them, should find this guide useful reading.
Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface. Part I: General Issues of Managed Care.A.J. Kent, M. Hersen, An Overview of Managed Mental Health Care: Past, Present, and Future. Part II: Modification of Traditional Roles Under Managed Care.W.I. Dorfman, Psychological Assessment and Testing Under Managed Care. C.S. Austad, Individual Psychotherapy and Managed Care. K.R. MacKenzie, Group Psychotherapies Under Managed Care. Part III: New Roles for Psychologists Under Managed Care.K. Strosahl, The Psychologist in Primary Health Care. H. Levenson, J. Burg, Training Psychologists in the Era of Managed Care. N.A. Cummings, A Psychologist's Proactive Guide to Managed Care: New Roles and Opportunities.
Review :
"The key word is in the title of this important book -- 'proactive.' The editors have put together contributions from leading psychologists to lay out a forward-looking, affirmative plan not just to cope with but to take full advantage of current and future changes in the structure of mental health delivery systems. Based on empirically supported approaches, this provocative and optimistic collection offers strategies that exploit clinical psychology's unique strengths as a science-based profession with built-in accountability -- and there is no question that increased accountability is demanded, and rightly so, in today's and tomorrow's managed care environment. This book should be read, studied, and discussed not only by practitioners but by faculty and students in clinical training programs."
—Gerald C. Davison, Ph.D.
University of Southern California
"Kent and Hersen have done an excellent job of bringing together chapters that present a realistic look at managed behavioral healthcare and the challenges and opportunities it presents to psychologists. Rather than focusing on those aspects of managed care that have negatively affected psychological practice, the editors have chosen to present ways in which psychologists can succeed, demonstrate value and accountability, and thrive in the healthcare system of today and the future. They also discuss the skills that must be acquired and developed in order to do so. This book is a must for any psychologist or graduate student who is considering practicing in a managed care setting."
—Mark E. Maruish, Ph.D.
United Behavioral Health
"...timely and much needed.. .a must for psychologists as they prepare for the challenges presented by the continuing evolution of managed care and the health care industry. The chapters, written by a top notch group of scientist-practitioners, detail the changes seen in the traditional role of the psychologist, as well as examine new roles that are developing. The proactive stance offers a fresh and useful perspective on a much discussed topic. A valuable resource for clinicians, academicians, and graduate students alike."
—Alan M. Gross
University of Mississippi
"A Psychologist's Proactive Guide to Managed Mental Health Care provides an excellent overview of managed care, addresses challenges facing psychological assessment, frankly discusses how traditionally trained clinicians must change the services they deliver and, perhaps most importantly, alerts the reader to even more radical forthcoming changes in mental health service delivery that offer substantial opportunities to psychologists. I definitely recommend this informative book to established psychologists as well as to those who are still in training."
—Warren W. Tryon
Fordham University
