Using the DSM-IV to enhance collaboration among school counselors, clinical counselors, and primary care physicians

School counselors are increasingly being called upon to participate in collaborative mental health service delivery teams. This article provides information based in the language of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) needed to enhance collaboration with physicians and mental health care providers. Brief descriptions of the more common DSM-IV disorders of childhood and adolescence, along with their prevalence and common approaches to diagnosis and treatment, and suggestions for enhancing referral and establishing a collaborative relationship are provided.