This indispensable book provides therapists and counselors with crucial knowledge about psychotropic medications: when and how to make medication referrals, how to help patients handle questions and problems that arise, and how to combine medication and psychotherapy effectively. Ideal for readers without extensive background in neurobiology, the book clearly explains how medications work in the brain and how they affect an individual's emotions, behavior, and relationships. Particular attention is given to strategies for collaborating successfully with prescribers. The authors also emphasize the important role that family members play in medication decision making and discuss ways to involve them in treatment.