Psychological treatment on the acute ward

Abstract

Psychological approaches to treatment on inpatient units have been increasingly valued both by staff and service users. Such approaches have been delivered by specialist psychologists and psychotherapists but also adopted and used by the wider multidisciplinary ward team as a framework for guiding treatment. This chapter outlines both direct interventions with service users, as well as broader, more indirect psychological working with staff, families, and other external stakeholders. It also outlines the key stages of psychological working including assessment, formulation, intervention, and evaluation, and provides an overview of the types of therapies commonly delivered. The importance of staff well-being, team working, clinical supervision, and reflective practice is discussed, as are the challenges of working psychologically within an inpatient context.