COunseling

It is imperative that counselors carry general liability insurance primarily because of suits arising from malpractice . There are many instances in which a counselor can be sued for malpractice , either civilly , or criminally . Malpractice is defined as harm done to a client resulting from professional negligence . Liability will be classified under two headings , civil and criminal . Civil liability can arise when the counselor acts wrongly towards their patients , or fails to act when there is a duty to do so . Criminal liability concerns a wrong that requires legal action . One way a

counselor can be sued in a civil case could be if the counselor does not follow the professional codes of ethics outlined in the national Board of certified counselors curriculum . Counselors must respect the confidentiality of their patients , or else malpractice suits can arise . A second instance where a counselor can be sued for malpractice would be when failing to act when there is a necessary need to do so . For example , if the counselor is helping a patient contemplating suicide and the counselor does not let anybody else know and later the patience commits suicide a liability suite could arise from negligence on the part of the counselor . Lastly a counselor can be sued criminally , if any unlawful act is committed between the counselor and the patient . For example , if the counselor physically assaults a patient , criminal liability can arise . Certain steps , a counselor can take to avoid such occurrences is one , purchase liability insurance . Liability insurance will protect the counselor in instances were negligence has caused civil liability hazards (Burgum Anderson , 1975 Hopkins Anderson , 1990 . Another way counselor can avoid such occurrences would be to learn what rights there clients have and inform their clients of them . For example , it is important for a minor to acquire consent from a parental guardian before entering into any type of counseling situation , if this rule is not followed , criminal liability suits can arise . Furthermore , the records of all clients must be protected by the counselor . Client 's privacy is of key importance to a counselor , as long as no illegal acts were committed . As a counselor a client 's privacy should be of the utmost importance . If a client feels that they cannot come to a counselor and speak in complete confidentiality , the necessary trust factor between patient and counselor will not be there . Accurate record-keeping is one of the top five causes of legal liability occurrences . Records for counselors contain all information about the client necessary for his or her treatment . When counselors are dealing with their clients , it is imperative that they follow the code of ethics set forth for them purchase general liability insurance , and educate themselves on the rights of their clients . Counselors do not have to worry about civil or criminal liability , if they are well protected . By purchasing liability insurance , the counselors protect themselves from any civil liability that may occur , or criminal , depending on the peril . As long as a counselor takes the proper steps to ensure their safety , their job can be very rewarding and fulfilling . Counselors must always be ready to expect the worse , some clients may have problems that are too big for them , or need the attention of somebody more qualified . One last important factor a counselor should always consider , legal documents should be drafted for each client , waving the counselor 's liability in circumstances that could arise out of negligence . By having the client sign a waiver of liability form , the counselor is protected . When working with their clients , contractual agreements will help ease the burden of civil or criminal liability suits that could arise from the client

Life is lived through a series of stages , beginning with birth , and ending with death . As we live our lives people enter and leave , there is a series of hellos , and goodbyes . When keeping the concept of life stages in line , termination is associated with laws , while others may associate laws as a process of re-creation , and a greater understanding of the self , helping the client to discover new things . Termination signals the end of something , and the relationship between a counselor and their client , it serves as an ending point . Secondly , termination between a client and their counselor , means maintaining the changes already achieved , and utilizing the skills acquired during the counseling sessions . Once termination occurs , it is up to the client to apply the skills they have learned during their counseling sessions , and turn their insights into actions . Timing is also important when deciding when to terminate the relationship with the client . Clients may lose ground they 've gained during their counseling sessions during the termination process . On the other hand , if termination is avoided , the client can become dependent on the counselor to resolve their issues and not learn how to apply the principles learned during their sessions to their life . When measuring the timing of termination is important that the counselor ask there self if the client has achieved their behavioral , cognitive , and contract goals . If the client has not achieved their goals , termination should not take place , or else the client could regress to earlier behaviors . During the initial sessions between the counselor and the client , it is important that the counselor clearly defines the time limits of the session , ranging anywhere from 50 minutes , to an hour is sufficient . It will usually take the counselor about five or 10 minutes to adjust to the client , and get a feel for their concerns . Counseling sessions that terminate to quickly have a high chance of becoming unproductive ones that last too long . There are two important factors to consider when terminating a session with the client . First , the client and the counselor should be aware of the timing set for the session , and its ending . The second factor should be to bring no new issues , or concerns should be introduced or discussed during the termination of the session . If the client tries to introduce new matters during the termination of a session , it is important that the counselor makes those issues or concerns , the focus of the next session . A counselor can close a session in several different ways . One way to close the session is to simply make a brief statement indicating that the time for the session is up . Another effective way to end the session is for the counselor , nearing the interview , to summarize what has been talked about during the sessions , there issues and concerns and the steps that are to be taken to deal with them . In both the counselor and the client summarize what they have learned in game from the session together , they may gain new insight into what each has gotten out of the respective session , clearing up any misunderstandings between the client and counselor . Another important factor to consider when terminating an appointment between the client and counselor is setting up the next appointment . The client 's problems will not be resolved in one session , it will take time . Clients and counselors will develop a lasting relationship over time , resolving the issues and concerns of the client . It is reassuring for the client to know that they will meet again and continue their sessions . Counseling relationships vary in time , and purpose . It is important that the subject of termination be brought up early by the counselor when sessions began . A timeframe must be set in for the clients to understand that the session must end . Any new issues the client poses must be addressed in the next session . It is important that the counselor realizes that they do not want to create a dependency with their clients . In for counselors to make the process of termination more therapeutic the client and counselor must agree on when the termination of the relationship should occur . If the counselor prematurely terminates the session , massive repercussions could occur within the client . In for a counselor to get a feel for the client 's needs , and when the appropriate time to terminate the session is , they should ask questions such as , you appear to be well on your way to no longer need my services any longer , or , I see that you 're not eating my help anymore . Also the behavior of the client could signal when the appropriate timing of indignant termination should be If the counselor has noticed that the client has improved their behavior , then it is time for the sessions to be terminated . The ultimate goal for counselors is to become completely obsolete and non-necessary to their clients in time . Counselor does not want their clients A client must learn to incorporate the strategies and tools and insights gained from the counseling sessions into their lives

Counseling and consultation are alike and different in many ways regarding the populations they served . Consultation has been defined as the meeting of two professional persons , the consultant , a specialist and a consultancy , who seeks the consultants help in regard to their current situation . Consultation usually takes place when somebody seeks the professional services of another , in regard to problems concerning work or business . When viewing exactly what consultation is there are six important factors to be considered , consultation is content-based and goal oriented , governed by variable roles and relationship rules and usually involves gathering data , along with recommending solutions is triadic , and is based on ideologies , value systems , and ethics Counseling on the other hand usually takes place between the client and the counselor , and the client is usually in need of behavioral changes The role between a consultant and a consultee , and a counselor , and their client are a very different one . Differences between somebody who is seeking a consultant , and someone who is seeking a counselor , usually revolve around their needs . Someone seeking a consultation with another is usually searching for help with a work-related or potential problem with the client or client system , while on the other hand , those who are seeking a counselor , usually are in need of advice concerning very personal situations as well as negative behavioral patterns (pg .461 Some similarities between a counselor and a consultant would include one , both are certified professionals helping clients in need , too , both are goal oriented and have an objective , three , both are process oriented and involve gathering data and recommending solutions , as well as offer support . Both consultants , and counselor are focused on the development and growth with there clients

In summary , counselors have an important job when dealing with their clients . Counselors are certified trained professionals , and must ensure their safety and the safety of their clients through contractual agreements , as well as various forms of liability insurance . Counselors have a responsibility to ensure the privacy of their clients , as well as offer them the necessary help needed to move past negative associations and begin to apply the positive principles gained through session work to their life . The ultimate goal of the counselor is to rid their client 's dependency of them . A counselor does not wish for their client to be but gain the insight and tools necessary to no longer need the sessions Counselors and consultants are both professionals , and both serve their clients in the best way possible . Both counselors and consultants are goal oriented , and focused on the outcomes associated with their clients

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