ABSTRACT
The process of referring patients to a mental health professional or a behavioral health clinic evolves from the same set of interviewing skills and “felt sense” of what is happening inside the patient, as in all the previously mentioned interventions that facilitate behavior change, decision making, or information interweave.
If you believe that significant psychological dynamics might be blocking your patient’s progress toward health behaviors and decision making and/or that he or she is suffering from emotions or other symptoms that need attention and are beyond your expertise, a referral to a mental health specialist might be indicated. Or, if the patient specifically wants to work more steadily with a behavioral health specialist, this is a reason to refer to mental health for evaluation as there may be issues that the patient doesn’t wish to share with you. The more competent you become with interviewing, the more you can engage the patient in the decision process about a mental health referral. And, the more you can engage in self-care and extend respectful curiosity toward the patient, the more clarity you will have regarding the need for a referral. Reasons for clinicians to consider a referral appear in our video demonstrations.
