Experienced counselors working with individuals, couples, and families with psychological conditions are able to adapt and tailor their therapeutic response to client need and phase of treatment. To the extent to which the therapeutic landscape of psychological conditions is familiar to them, counselors can confidently and effectively respond therapeutically. However, working effectively with patients and families experiencing chronic medical conditions can be a challenge for many counselors because the therapeutic landscapes of chronic medical conditions and psychological conditions differ. This article sketches the phases of chronic medical illness and provides a framework for tailoring therapeutic responses to patients and their families.
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