Coun 52 Research on Counselor and Client Safety

Research on counselor and client safety
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Abstract
In any counseling relationship, the client and the counselor’s safety is paramount, even though safety is not a big issue, mental health counselors are at a greater risk of being abused compared other counselors. That is why several scholars are advocating for safety training to be included as part of the education program for mental health counselors. Mental health counselors are physically and verbally abused by patients. It important for counselors to evaluate the situation to limit self-harm, suicide or violence that might be displayed by the client. Furthermore, mental care workers should work in collaboration with law officials to assess levels of safety within the communities where the client might be a threat.
Research on Counselor and Client Safety
Counselors engage clients actively during counseling process; however many obstacles often arise causing harm to both the client and the counselor. There are many concernes being raised about client and counselor's relationship in regards to safety. Several strategies have been recommended in regards to some of the challenges faced by the client and counselors. This paper addresses the views of different articles on counselor and client safety in crisis situations. The paper also highlights some of the approaches that can be used by mental health counselors to deliver mental health services citing examples of some of the roles and responsibilities of different intervention for diverse clients.
In the article, A Survey of Safety Training in Rehabilitation Counselor Education Programs by Davis, Schultz, Anderson, and Bartley (2009), the authors state the importance of ensuring that rehabilitation counselors are protected from increased risk including threats and other forms of violence. The article emphasizes the importance of safety training and counselor competency in identifying and responding to threatening situations (Davis, Schultz, Anderson,.& Bartley, 2009).
The article highlights the importance of timely communication, incidence debriefing , future prevention of similar incidences, as well as conflict and lifestyle management. The article talks about the benefits of including safety topics counselor education programs. The main concern according to the authors is how to protect the counselors since they are the targets of violence, especially when dealing with mental ill patients. This is because several studies confirm the increasing number of violence among mental care professionals in several states making safety the main concern in health (Davis, Schultz, Anderson, & Bartley, 2009).
Similarly, Chapin Martha and Boykin, Rebecca in their article Integrating Positive Psychology Techniques into Rehabilitation Counselor Education (2010), emphasize on the importance of positive psychology as a framework to help counselors evaluate their competencies and also understand the value of strength-based approach to mental health counseling practice . The article analyzes different techniques of positive psychology discussing their usage and how effective these strategies can be (Chapin & Boykin,2010).
Research on Client Safety
In the article written by Pamela Mitchell and Elizabeth Soule, Defining Patient Safety and Quality Care (2005), the authors define patient safety practices as practices that prevent harm to clients. According to the authors, patient safety is the cornerstone of quality health care. The article analyzes patient safety by focusing on minimizing negative health outcomes like mortality and morbidity (Mitchell & Soule ,2005). In this case, the role of nurses in surveillance and coordination of reducing to reduce negative health outcomes is key. According to this article; much work needs to be performed to evaluate the impact of nursing care versus positive health care outcomes indicators like appropriate self-care and any other measures that improve patient’s health status (Mitchell & Soule, 2005).
Linda Emmanuel et al. in t...