counsellors deal with various types of patients with different needs and problems
Every day, counsellors deal with various types of patients with different needs and problems. Nevertheless, a counsellor is bound to offer assistance ethically and with the standards required. American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards stipulates the confidentiality measures that counsellors should observe when dealing with a patient (ACA, 2014). First, there is the respect for confidentiality, which indicates that a counsellor is bound to keep a client’s information confidential. Second, Limitations and Explanations, which indicates that there are certain exceptions for the first guideline. This discussion will analyze a case of a client who confesses her suicidal plans to a counsellor and the necessary steps that a counsellor should take when dealing with such as situation as per the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards.
In the case study, the client confessed to the counsellor that she was planning to commit suicide. Although the counsellor is bound to maintain confidentiality to any information that the client shares, this case is different and has exceptions. According to the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards, a counsellor is supposed to report a patient’s intention when it comes to an instance of inflicting self-harm and harm to others (ACA, 2014). In this case, the situation falls under exceptions and limitations to adhere to the confidentiality agreement since the client is planning to harm herself. As such, the counsellor is bound to report the patient’s intentions to the immediate family as well as other professionals.
In order to understand how best to help the client in this case, it is important to first understand the characteristics of trauma in the client’s case. Sara, the client, case and trauma experience can be explained using the three I’s as explained by James and Gilliland (2017), inescapable, intolerable, and interminable. Sara believes her situation is inescapable as well as intolerable and the only solution is to commit suicide since she also considers herself interminable as she calls herself a burden to the family. Understanding the client’s characteristics in terms of the extent of the trauma is crucial in helping the client to deal with her issues. As such, using these three, I’s the counsellor is able to understand Sara’s situation and come up with a sound way to help her overcome her situation.
Since the main issue with Sara is with her family and how she considers herself a burden to the family. The first step should be to inform the family regarding Sara’s intention to commit suicide. The family should be made aware in order to make sure that they understand how the client is feeling, understand that they are also the main contributor to her trauma, and how they can assist the client recover. The family should also be counselled on how well to deal with the patient. For example, they should be more empathetic with the client and show her a lot of love in order to deter her from the idea of committing suicide.
When dealing with a patient facing trauma, it is important for a counsellor to consider what is best for the patient towards their recovery process, while at the same time maintaining ethicality. Counsellors should ensure that the patient does not inflict self-harm or is not capable of harming themselves and ensure that they achieve the help they need.