Introduction

Assertive outreach has become a common term within mental health services, used both to describe a specific team and a style of working. Dedicated Assertive Outreach Teams have been part of UK government policy since 1999, and during this time a distinctive British model of assertive outreach has begun to develop. One aspect of this is the integration of psychological approaches, resulting in more holistic services and new roles for psychological therapists. The application of psychological approaches to assertive outreach is the subject of this book.