Behaviour Therapy/Consultation

THE ROLE OF THE CLINICAL CONSULTANT

DEFINITION

Clinical consultation is a time-limited, leadership and helping process by which an individual, family, agency, professional or organization requests impartial third party advice about methods/processes for changing, improving or dealing with challenging, troubled or complex people or situations.

Being an effective consultant has been described as being "an art" requiring discipline which can be improved through experience, formal education and on-going professional and personal development. Good consultants are supportive. They sometimes challenge the status quo; and are expected to have insight and ideas. By definition, however, it must be remembered that the people requesting consultation are under no compulsion to accept consultant's ideas or follow-through with their recommendations.

CONSULTATION OBJECTIVES

Professionals often are asked to play the role of clinical consultants. Effective clinical consultants:

• Teach/enhance the skills and knowledge of community professionals, managers, individuals and families.
• Nurture, support and mend broken spirits.
• Give advice, offer clinical impressions and sometimes challenge the status quo.
• Clarify/define the roles of key players.
• Are cheer-leaders and motivators who try to help people cope with complex and challenging people/situations.
• Increase the capacity of community professionals and agencies to handle more complex cases in the future.
• Help to turn destructive downward spirals into upward spirals of positive change.
• Do specialized, formal presentations for families, agencies or professionals.
• Use the highest professional standards and ethics.

CLOSING CASES

Clinical consultants will consider closing a case when:

• The referral question/issue concerning the individual, family or agency has been resolved or greatly improved.
• The agency or family disagree with the consultant's recommendations; or want to use methods which are considered punitive or unethical.

All our staff are members of ONTABA - Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis