Psychologist, over 1 year’s experience, UK

This chapter details a Psychologist’s first experience of working with patients with “Dissociative Seizures” as a junior assistant Psychologist with very little therapeutic experience. In the Psychologist’s experience, labeling these events as “non-epileptic attacks” tended to inspire confusion, frustration, and a sense of hopelessness on the part of patients. Indeed, these patients expressed that this label helped them understand what they did not have but provided them with little information about what they did have, and what this meant for them. Working with these patients, the Psychologist experienced with frequency the difficult thoughts and feelings that come along with the role of being a mental health clinician. The Psychologist often felt moved by patients’ stories, which frequently demonstrated resilience and strength in the face of adversity or trauma. The chapter then outlines one case study that had a lasting impact on the Psychologist to illustrate some of the clinical challenges of working with patients who experience Dissociative Seizures.

At This Stage of My Career Paying for Supervision or Consultation Is Just Ridiculous

It is easy to assume that being licensed to practice a mental health profession independently renders one competent to manage effectively every clinical challenge that comes one’s way. Whether novice or experienced senior clinician, all mental health practitioners face clinically challenging situations, ethical dilemmas, and legally perplexing situations in the course of assessing and treating clients. This chapter explains the role of expert consultants in these situations and how they may save one significant money, time, and stress in the long run. Further, this chapter highlights the types of situations during which consultation and supervision may be especially helpful. Guidance is provided on how to know when this type of support and assistance is needed or may be beneficial, both to the client and to the mental health clinician, and how best to utilize it.

When I Need Clinical or Risk Management Advice I Should Ask for It on a Listserv

Every mental health clinician will at times need clinical or risk management advice to assist in responding to challenges and to provide the best possible care to clients. How and where to best obtain this advice may seem unclear and be quite challenging for some. This chapter explains the reasons for seeking input and advice from colleagues, options for accessing or obtaining needed guidance when faced with challenges and dilemmas, and risks of which to be aware. Although listservs may be valuable for obtaining general information and for maintaining a community of supportive colleagues, when obtaining clinical consultations that include confidential information, a number of risks are present. This chapter explains these risks, to include confidentiality issues and an inability to share enough information on a listserv to obtain meaningful consultations. How best to obtain needed consultations and how to do so ethically and legally is explained.