| Abstract: | This article is a review of Consultation: Practice and Practitioner, by Jonell Kirby, who is both editor of the book and a contributing author. In the preface of the book Kirby states that, “Consultation is replacing referrals for comprehensive treatment and services” (Kirby, 1985, p. vii). Kirby proposes that consultation will fill the gap between the general practitioner helper and the specialized expert. In the past, when a client required help outside of the specialist's expertise, the client was referred to another practitioner, creating a situation that often confused the client and caused the original service provider to worry about the client's welfare. This book is based on the beliefs and experiences of seven contributors. In the first two chapters the authors discuss the general nature of consultation; the remaining chapters focus on specific settings such as schools, hospitals, business settings, mental health centers, and police departments. |
