Illness Perceptions and Receptivity to Counseling: Implications for Individual and Couples Therapy

It is described the importance of assessing illness perception and then focusing treatment accordingly, and implications and applications for clinical practice are discussed.

Abstract

Clients' illness perceptions, particularly their beliefs about the cause, consequences, control, and curability of their condition, appear to be directly related to their receptivity to counseling and other health care interventions. This article defines illness perception and describes the importance of assessing these perceptions and then focusing treatment accordingly. Implications and applications for clinical practice are discussed. A case study and session transcription illustrate these points.