Collaborative practice in counselling: a scoping review

Abstract

Collaborative care (interdisciplinary/interprofessional teamwork) in mental health is emerging as best practice in primary care, hospitals, and government agencies. Counsellors have much to offer and benefit from working with other professions in service of their clients. While most health professions are well on their way integrating collaborating with one another in practice, it is yet unclear how often, and in what ways, counsellors are included in these teams. This scoping review of the literature on collaborative practice in counselling addresses the question: "What is the role of Professional Counselling and Clinical/Counselling Psychology in a collaborative model of mental health care?" This scoping review looks at 40 studies published between 2012 and 2015. Counsellors are often included on multidisciplinary teams in diverse roles. Specific collaborative activities are discussed along with ethical and educational implications.

Keywords: Collaborative practice; counselling; interprofessional education; multidisciplinary practice; scoping review.