Medical care has become increasingly specialized over the past twenty years. Patients with specific medical problems are often seen in specialized treatment settings in which care is directed at the individual problem. Behavioral health services (psychological services) have not kept pace with these changes. Psychological care has traditionally been provided in separate, isolated psychology offices by a variety of mental health practitioners. Behavioral health care has suffered from its own concern over issues of confidentiality and access. There still remains a stigma attached to psychological treatment, therefore, patient acceptance is low, and medical referrals are few.

A New Approach to Patient Treatment . . .

Behavioral health care, as provided by Behavioral Medicine Associates has overcome these obstacles by utilizing treatment approaches that are specific to a patient’s medical problem. If the patient is suffering from a pain syndrome due to an accident, behavioral care is directed at coping with pain through the use of systematic, concrete, and logical treatment plans. Treatment focuses on the problem at hand, teaching patients skills to cope with their difficulties. This skills-based approach is more widely accepted by patients, and provides rapid results. Patients are not afraid that they are being "analyzed" or that they are considered, "crazy."

Physicians are more accepting of this approach; it is based upon the medical model of care they use, and they are not fearful that patients will be kept in treatment for extended periods of time. Additionally, behavioral health care works in concert with medical treatment, allowing for a more positive medical result.

Combining Behavioral Care With Medical Care

Although treatment programs for specific medical problems have existed for some time, until now, little effort has been made at integrating behavioral care with medical care. Additionally, the private practice mental health professional will often "expand" the treatment to include issues tangential or unrelated to the initial medical concern. This is done out of professional concern as well as out of a desire to maintain a full patient roster.