Practical Approaches to Working with a Gastrointestinal Psychologist

Integrated models of care for chronic digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are becoming the standard of care and require patients to have access to brain-gut behavior therapies. Further progress is needed to implement this approach across GI practice settings and will require gastroenterologists to build collaborative relationships with GI Psychologists. This review provides guidance on practical steps for integrating brain-gut behavior therapy into a GI practice, including guidance on assessing patients for their appropriateness for referral, effective communication strategies to recommend brain-gut behavior therapy, and tips on how to develop a referral pathway and successful collaboration with a GI Psychologist.