This paper delineated and discussed the mental health approach to Consultation Theory. First, the term "consultation" was defined and the general theory was delineated. This was followed by a delineation of the mental health approach. Examples of the approach were provided, and strengths and weaknesses were identified and discussed.
Consultation Theory and the Mental Health Approach
The purpose of this paper is to review and summarized the current research on Consultation Theory and to discuss it in the context of the Mental Health approach. To elucidate understanding, several relevant examples and applications of the theory are also presented.
To fully understand the Mental Health approach to Consultation Theory, it is first necessary to define consultation and delineate the general theory. According to Kurpius and Fugua (1993), while definitions of the term "consultation" differ depending upon such factors as the counselor's background or goals, most characterize consultation as having one or more of the following characteristics: (1) Provision of information, advice or help; (2) Provision of a theory of process and organizational functioning; (3) Provision of an outside gestalt; (4) Reliance on the use of multiple models or paradigms;
(5) Creation of a foundation for understanding interrelationships among the different ways to view organizational phenomena;
(6) Requiring a strong conceptual process; and (7) Demonstrating how generic knowledge is transmitted from consultant to the client system.
Combining these characteristics into a general definition, Kurpius and Fugua (1993) define consultation as:
...helping consultees to think of their immediate problem as part of the larger system, and not only to understand how problems are solved but also to understand how they were developed, maintained or avoided. (p. 598)
As implied by the foregoing definition, during consultation, a consultant wor...