# Prism Model: Factors that Influence Teaming in Behavioral Health from the Perspectives of Interprofessional Clinicians

## TL;DR

This study identifies factors influencing teamwork in behavioral health through a prism model based on clinicians' perspectives.

## Contribution

The novel prism model captures dynamic factors influencing teaming in behavioral health settings from interprofessional clinicians' perspectives.

## Key findings

- Teaming is viewed positively but lacks a shared understanding of its meaning or occurrence.
- The prism model includes context, individual factors, communication, and workplace structures as key components.
- Environmental and contextual forces shape clinicians' perceptions of teaming.

## Abstract

This qualitative study explores what factors influence teaming in behavioral health settings, from the perspective of behavioral health providers. Twenty-four participants from a range of behavioral health professions engaged in semi-structured interviews. Using a grounded theory approach, data were analyzed, and a “prism” model was developed to capture the complexities of behavioral health providers’ perceptions of factors influencing teaming in various mental health and/or substance use disorder treatment programs. Specific model components included: behavioral health context, individual factors, navigating disciplinary-specific approaches, workplace structures, communication as a “throughline,” and varied perceptions of teaming. The prism model is dynamic, acknowledging the role of the individual in the system while also recognizing that participant perceptions of teaming are shaped by environmental and contextual forces. Each pathway is singular, with a variety of interacting factors. A key finding is that while teaming was viewed positively, there was no shared understanding of what teaming meant or whether it was occurring. The article concludes with implications for behavioral health education and practice, including support for new models of behavioral health care that incentivize teaming, expand community supports and peer workforce, prioritize the goals of recovery and wellness, and provide opportunities for more flexible financing.