Clients who present with physical symptoms that have emotional and psychological etiologies are difficult to treat. The client may have difficulty with the concept that their physical ailment is caused by a psychological stressor. As a counselor, you will need to recognize when somatic complaints and symptoms are stemming from a psychological stressor. You will also need to provide psychoeducation to the client in a way that the client will understand and be able to treat this disorder effectively.

What are the similarities and differences between illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, and factitious disorder? How do these somatic disorders relate to anxiety? What treatment modalities would you use and why? How are somatic disorders reinforced from a behavioral perspective?