Clinical Focus of Consultation Outcome Research with Children and Adolescents

Abstract Consultation can be considered as a cost effective, efficient approach for serving children, families, and agencies. Within this context, this study reviewed 35 child and adolescent consultation outcomes studies published from 1986 to 1997. Meta-analytic techniques were used to compute effect sizes for different consultation models, client, consultee, and system variables, and age and gender of clients. Behavioral consultation produced large positive effects on clients (i.e., children) and consul-tees (i.e., parents, teachers), organizational development consultation yielded robust effects at the system level, while mental health consultation produced medium effects on consultees. Consultation was particularly effective with clients with externalized behavior problems and academic difficulties. Large effects were found on consultees' learning of new skills and techniques, the reduction of referrals for psychoeducational assessments, and the increased use of psychological services. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed for practitioners in schools and related settings.