Doing short term counseling: a six session model.

Abstract

1. Short term counseling in an occupational health setting is an effective means of reaching a population that may otherwise not have considered counseling. However, because of the time limits, the practitioner must be able to make a quick assessment of the kind of help needed. 2. The seven principles of short term treatment are: 1) mutual goal directedness; 2) quick problem identification; 3) reminder of finiteness of sessions; 4) making an appropriate referral; 5) confidentiality; 6) open communication; and 7) follow up. 3. In a six session model, sessions 1 and 2 are for assessment; sessions 3 and 4 are for development of insights and strategies; and sessions 5 and 6 are for termination. 4. Occupational health nurses with mental health training are ideal practitioners of short term counseling, because they can recognize many physical symptoms as having a psychological basis.