In this age of accountability, and irrespective of whether they work in health-care settings or conventional mental health settings, all therapists will be increasingly expected to provide effective psychosocial treatment to individuals and families who face co-morbid medical conditions. Statistics these conditions are daunting: 75 percent of adults over age 65 and 50 percent of Americans constantly experience chronic medical symptoms, and prevalence rates of chronic medical conditions that are more than three times higher than mental illness. While it can be helpful to conceptualize treatment in terms of individual dynamics and utilize cognitive behavioral strategies, it can be much more effective to conceptualize family as well as individual dynamics and to utilize systemic interventions when indicated. Effective Treatment of Individuals and Families Facing Medical Conditions addresses the need for these types of interventions. It provides background information on 12 common medical conditions, and includes discussions of family dynamics as well as medical and psychosocial treatments. While recognizing the role of personality, culture, and illness dynamics, it emphasizes the centrality of family dynamics in conceptualizing and implementing interventions.

Part 1 Integrated Behavioral Health; Chapter 1 Integrated Behavioral Health; Chapter 2 Family Dynamics1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2011). Recognizing family dynamics in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 20, 79-85.; Chapter 3 Personality Dynamics1.Adapted from Sperry, L., & Carlson, J. (2000). Couples therapy with a personality-disordered couple. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 8, 118-123.; Chapter 4 Illness Perceptions1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2007). Illness perceptions and receptivity to counseling: Implications for individual and couples therapy. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 15, 298-302.; Chapter 5 Stages of Chronic Illness1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2009). Therapeutic response to patients and families experiencing chronic medical conditions. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 17, 180-184.; Chapter 6 ). Health counseling with individuals, couples, and families: Three perspectives on ethical and professional practice. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 13, 328-331.; Chapter 7 ). Spiritually competent practice with individuals and families dealing with medical conditions. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 19, 42-416.; Chapter 8 Compliance Considerations1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2006). Family-oriented compliance counseling: A therapeutic strategy for enhancing health status and lifestyle change. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 14, 412-416.; Chapter 9 Motivational Interviewing1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2012). Motivational interviewing, non-adherence with medical treatment, and families. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 20, 306-308.; Chapter 10 Case Conceptualization1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2013). Family case conceptualization and medical conditions. Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 21, 74-77.; Chapter 11 ). Culture, personality, health, and family dynamics: Cultural competence in the selection of culturally-sensitive treatments. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 18, 316-320.; Chapter 12 Therapeutic Strategy1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2007). Utilizing a family-sensitive cognitive behavioral intervention with chronic illness: The impact of family dynamics and therapy on medical symptoms. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 15, 56-61.; Chapter 13 Combined Treatment; Part 2 Integrated Behavioral Health; Chapter 14 ). Treating patients with arthritis: The impact of individual, couple, and family dynamics. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 18, 263-266.; Chapter 15 ). Treating patients with asthma: The impact of individual and family dynamics. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 17, 350-354.; Chapter 16 Breast Cancer1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2010). Breast cancer, depression, culture, and marital conflict. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families 18, 62-65.; Chapter 17 Cardiac Disease1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2011). Treating patients with heart disease: The impact of individual and family dynamics. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 19, 96-100.; Chapter 18 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2011). Recognizing family dynamics in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 20, 79-85.; Chapter 19 Diabetes1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2010). Treating diabetes with severe personality-disordered individuals and families. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 18, 432-442.; Chapter 20 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2011). Systemic lupus erythematosus: The impact of individual, couple, and family dynamics. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 19, 328-332.; Part 3 Integrated Behavioral Health; Chapter 21 ). Culturally, clinically, and ethically competent practice with individual and families dealing with medical conditions. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 19, 212-216.; Chapter 22 Competency-Based Training1.Adapted from Sperry, L. (2012). Training counselors to work competently with individuals and families with health and mental health issues. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy with Couples and Families, 20, 196-199.;