ABSTRACT
OVERVIEW The psychiatrist Gerald Caplan is credited with being one of the first mental heath professionals to write about the importance of consultation (Brown, Pryzwansky, & Schulte, 2001; 2006). In his work at a child guidance center in Israel after World War II, he noted that by providing support to those providing child care, rather than delivering traditional therapy directly to immigrant children, the caregivers were able to serve a great number of children and manage a broader range of the children’s difficulties (Caplan, 1970; Caplan & Caplan, 1993). Caplan’s work has been termed mental health consultation (MHC), and is used in a variety of contexts, including school systems.*
MHC provides technical expertise with respect to mental health symptoms and disorders to help caregivers address such difficulties. Since personal needs can interfere with daily functioning, by responding to such needs, consultation services can preventatively address issues related to mental health. In fact, Caplan was attentive to how the personal needs of both child and caregiver can impact the child’s functioning (Caplan 1970, 1974). He notes that adults comprise an important part of a child’s environment. In view of this, ineffective or disturbed adults can negatively impact children. Thus, in Caplan’s model the social environment and interpersonal psychodynamic perspectives are important to consider when planning interventions (Caplan, 1970).
