Abstract
Although the involvement of counseling psychologists in health care has raised questions about our professional identity since the beginning of our field, counseling psychology has made important contributions to health. Counseling health psychologists have provided theory, interventions, and research initiatives to enhance primary care and the treatment of pain, chronic illness, and injury; improve physical rehabilitation; and augment care in cancer, HIV/AIDS, other life-threatening illnesses, and other health issues. Multicultural expertise, social justice values, and a focus on health promotion and disease prevention have distinguished counseling health psychology (CHP) as a developing field. A conceptual framework for CHP is presented, which draws upon core themes of positive health and wellness, patient-centeredness, and a systems perspective to make recommendations for theory, research, practice, and advocacy.