* A practical guide to effective treatment planning* Expert advice includes case examples, callout boxes, and "Test Yourself" questions* Conveniently formatted for rapid reference Improve patient care through better treatment planning and monitoring Essentials of Treatment Planning presents a clear and concise approach to the development and use of treatment plans in behavioral health care settings. This nuts-and-bolts guide covers such essential material as the role and benefits of treatment planning in a clinical setting, methods for conducting comprehensive patient assessments, the use of assessment information to develop the basis of individual treatment plans, and strategies for ongoing evaluations and revisions of treatment plans. Essentials of Treatment Planning guides you in how to develop and use treatment plans to strengthen the entire treatment process. An important component in documentation, accurate treatment plans provide such benefits as: meeting the accountability requirements of managed behavioral health care organizations; allowing for more efficient coordination of care with other health care professionals; and facilitating better communication with outside reviewers. Mental health professionals may gain the additional security of protection from certain types of litigation. As part of the Essentials of Mental Health Practice series, this book provides the information mental health professionals need to practice knowledgeably, efficiently, and ethically in today's behavioral health care environment. Each concise chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as "Test Yourself" questions that help you gauge and reinforce your grasp of the information covered.