H. Russell Searight's
Practicing Psychology in Primary Care is a guide for mental health professionals and those interested in or working in primary medical care settings, like hospitals and nursing homes.
Searight has been an associate professor of psychology at
Lake Superior State University since 2007, and holds a Ph.D. and a master's degree in Public Health. The book was published by
Hogrefe and Huber. Searight says it addresses issues that affect increasing numbers of physicians, as mental health illnesses often are seen in such primary care settings.
"Clinical psychologists are increasingly developing professional affiliations with family physicians, internists and pediatricians," Searight says. "Working alongside these physicians can have considerable positive impact on patient care."
When writing the book, Searight drew on his 18 years of experience as the director of behavioral medicine and clinical associate professor of community and family medicine at a family medicine residency affiliated with
Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
"The first half describes primary care medicine as a unique culture with its own unwritten rules and health care philosophy," Searight says. "These norms and values are often at odds with the formal training of many non-medical mental health professionals. The second half describes models of brief psychotherapy and counseling that are particularly useful in primary care settings."
Searight's previous three books are:
Family of Origin: Therapy and Cultural Diversity, published by Taylor and Francis,
Behavioral Medicine: A Primary Care Approach, published by Bruner-Mazel, and
Parent Articles About AD/HD, from Harcourt & Brace, which was written and co-edited with Clare Jones and Magda Urban.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: H. Russel Searight, LSSU
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