The Mental Health Clinician's Workbook: Locking In Your Professional Skills

by James Morrison MD

Overview

Rich with compelling case material, this hands-on workbook helps mental health practitioners and students build essential skills for clinical evaluation and differential diagnosis. Renowned diagnostician James Morrison invites the reader to interview and evaluate 26 patients with a wide spectrum of presenting complaints and ultimate diagnoses. Using multiple-choice questions and fill-in-the-blank exercises, clinicians practice the arts of interviewing and making diagnostic decisions. The convenient large-size format facilitates use. Extensive tables in the appendix provide a quick-reference guide to the interviewing techniques, diagnostic principles, and clinical diagnoses discussed in each case.

See also other essential resources for new clinicians—Becoming a Therapist, Second Edition, by Suzanne Bender and Edward Messner, which covers what to say and why, starting from the very first session, and The Therapist's Journey, by Robert Taibbi, which offers guidance for navigating professional development, boundaries, self-care, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462534845
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	03/30/2018
Edition description:	Workbook
Pages:	326
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

James Morrison, MD, is Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. His long career includes extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. With his acclaimed practical books—including Diagnosis Made Easier, Third Edition; DSM-5-TR Made Easy; The First Interview, Fourth Edition; and others—Dr. Morrison has guided hundreds of thousands of mental health professionals and students through the complexities of clinical evaluation and diagnosis.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Good Beginnings—Abby
2. Complaint Department—Brad
3. Past Is Prologue—Candice
4. Decision Tree—Douglas
5. Transitions—Elinor
6. Safety First—Fritz
7. Central Casting—Gloria
8. Self-Defense—Hank
9. A Mystery and an Enigma—Inez
10. Now and Then—Julio
11. Small Bites—Kylie
12. Swan Song—Liam
13. Age-Old Questions—Melissa
14. Family Secrets—Norman
15. Rejections—Olivia
16. To Tell the Truth—Pierce
17. Encore—Quinn
18. Nil by Mouth—Randolph
19. Ghost in the Machine—Siobhán
20. Compelling Evidence—Tyler
21. Character Reference—Uma
22. Motion Sickness—Vincent
23. Role of the Dice—Whitney 
24. Fill in the Blanks—X
25. In Other Words—Yasmin
26. Goodbye and Good Luck—Zander
Appendix. Tables
References and Suggested Reading
 

Editorial Reviews

This very well-written book is full of gems, consistently clear, and profound in analysis and wisdom. The reader follows the author through the many intricacies of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Much more than an ordinary textbook or guideline, this workbook helps the reader build 'best thinking practices' in mental health, and demonstrates their excellent results."—Rodrigo A. Muñoz, MD, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego; past president, American Psychiatric Association

"Morrison has the ability to talk to the reader in a personal yet instructive way that reflects his years of experience in diagnostics. This is a perfect text for any beginning psychopathology, abnormal psychology, or diagnostics course. The methodical and logical analysis of cases, including active tasks that hone the reader's skills for DSM-5 diagnosis, makes the book unique. It is an invaluable resource for new trainees in psychiatry, psychology, social work, and psychiatric nursing. Students who use this workbook are sure to gain a sense of efficacy in their ability to differentially diagnose complex and challenging cases."—Sheila Garos, PhD, Director, Counseling Psychology Program, Texas Tech University

"This workbook tutors the beginning clinician in the art of interviewing, triaging risk, and identifying the key issues to consider in making a preliminary diagnosis. Utilizing vignettes, Morrison skillfully leads the reader through the thinking process of a seasoned practitioner, providing interactive examples that build the student's capacity to critically think through the case. The text is excellent for use to hone skills in diagnosis, interviewing, and case formulation, and would form a good jumping-off point for treatment planning and intervention courses. Finally, a book that offers students practice opportunities that will greatly enhance what they learn in the classroom!"—Brenda Frechette, PhD, Adjunct Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies and John F. Kennedy University

“Morrison has provided a unique and comprehensive guide to critical aspects of clinical rapport, diagnostic interviewing, and diagnostic formulation. This text serves as an important tool for the aspiring clinician enrolled in a master's or doctoral program, as well as the more experienced clinician engaged in a busy practice. The book is special in that it uses clinical case vignettes to help the reader through the process of differential diagnosis. Any clinician will feel engaged and challenged by Morrison's cases and questions."—Paul D. Nussbaum, PhD, ABPP, Adjunct Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; President, Brain Health Center, Wexford, Pennsylvania

From the Publisher