"Counsellors often encounter situations where clients' medical or psychiatric conditions - and their treatment - affect the assessment of, or work with, that client. The first comprehensive overview of its kind aimed specifically at counsellors, this book highlights their key concerns and offers practical advice for judging when a situation may be beyond the counsellor's skills." "Topics covered include how to recognize serious medical or mental health problems and guidelines on referral; information on the effects and possible side-effects of certain drug treatments; how to deal with a medical emergency should it arise within a session; how to help clients deal with medical dilemmas such as HIV testing; and which psychiatric conditions can be exacerbated by counselling." "The authors consider in further detail questions counsellors must be aware of in assessment, at the point of referral and in ongoing counselling - for instance, when it is appropriate to refer on and how best to do it, how to liaise with the client's GP, and whether or not it is appropriate to visit in hospital. Ethical and legal issues - including confidentiality and counsellor responsibility - are addressed throughout."--Jacket.