Psychosocial occupational therapy - Elizabeth Cara

An excellent resource for coursework in psychosocial occupational therapy, this revised edition focuses on the clinical applications of psychosocial occupational therapy to prepare the reader for working with actual clients in real-life contexts. With a novice friendly approach focusing on diagnosis, this book is filled with case illustrations to demonstrate therapy in clinical practice. Current issues with a clinical focus have been contributed by experts in the field and include an international perspective. Keeping current with developments in the profession, extensive revisions and reorganization reflect the recent Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (AOTA, 2002). Chapters have been reorganized to reflect the long-standing value placed on treating the whole person. This reorganization mirrors the general trend in psychiatry and mental health to intervene more aggressively using medicine and assessments, to evaluate and treat more briefly, to focus on function, and to use community settings. Thoroughly revised and restructured, this text is an important addition to any occupational therapy library. New to the Edition:Reorganized into seven sections on the mental health context, theoretical concepts, diagnosis and dysfunction, mental health across the lifespan, mental health with physical disorders, occupational therapy intervention in mental health, expanded roles for occupational therapists in mental health, and clinically related roles to better reflect clinical practice.New chapter on assessment including an overview of the evaluation process, observation, and interview techniques.New, separate chapters on mental health of children, mental health of adolescents, and mental health of the elderly provide more detailed information for each of these populations.Includes a new chapter on environmental and cultural considerations.

Elizabeth Cara received her Certificate of Proficiency in occupational therapy from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Santa Clara University, a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Fielding Graduate University. For the last twenty years, she has been a Professor of Occupational Therapy at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Cara's clinical experience is in the rehabilitation of people with mental disabilities. Her scholarly interests include psychobiography, clinical supervision, infant and family mental health, group dynamics, interpersonal communication, and psychosocial disorders. She is the co-creator of a successful vocational program, Community Vocational Enterprises, in San Francisco, California. Dr. Cara is a native of California.