Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care: Evaluating the Evidence, Identifying the Essentials

Contributed by experts who’ve developed integrative healthcare initiatives with strengths in the areas of policy and principles, organizational systems, or clinical practice. These contributors will illustrate the concepts and describe the nuts and bolts of their integration initiatives. In the conclusion of each section, the editors will construct a template to systematically evaluate these essential elements. This template will organize the information to help stakeholders compare and contrast the strengths, resources, limitations and challenges of how each model meets the vision of integrative healthcare. In the concluding section the information in the preceding sections connects to provide a coherent synopsis of the common themes and practices, from the macro to micro levels of care, which foster successful integration of the medical and psychosocial systems.

Dr. Mary R. Talen received her BA in psychology from Calvin College, her MA in marriage, family and child counseling from Fuller Theological Seminary and her PhD in counseling psychology from the Teacher’s College of Columbia University. Currently in progress is her MS in clinical psychopharmacology with Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Talen has over 25 published articles, with 20 as first-author and has over 55 national and international presentations on the themes of implementation of behavioral health best practices with evidenced based medicine, ensuring a comprehensive continuum of care with outreach to underserved and uninsured populations and fusion of Balint with problem-solving strategies.