Guidelines for the Study Therapist

The therapist assesses patients’ needs for cognitive-behavioral therapy, decides whether group or individual treatment is most appropriate, conducts therapy sessions, and maintains records for each client. This manual contains all the information required for the therapist to perform these functions. It provides a step-by-step guide for the therapist’s interaction with the patient, including initial contact, tracking and recordkeeping, and concluding therapy. The manual also contains forms for documenting symptoms, treatment, and medications, and for recording the results of evaluations, as well as templates for recording a patient’s individual treatment plan. To provide context, the manual duplicates some of the forms used by the Depression Nurse Specialist. Partners in Care (PIC) is an integrated approach to improving care for depression in primary care. Its two quality improvement programs — one focusing on medication, the other on psychotherapy — are appropriate for socioeconomically and ethnically diverse populations.