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Working with suicidal clients: The person‐centred counsellor's experience and understanding of risk assessment
Author(s) -
Moerman Marijke
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1080/14733145.2011.628031
Subject(s) - psychology , psychotherapist
Background: Client risk assessment within the person‐centred paradigm is traditionally seen as squarely opposed to its ethos. Aim : To determine how the person‐centred counsellor experiences and understands the issue of risk assessment within the confines of their work ethos. Method : Semi‐structured interviews with seven person‐centred counsellors using thematic analysis were conducted. Findings : Three main themes emerged following thematic analysis: The impact of the risk assessment process on self ; The counsellor's experience of self , and The therapeutic process in relation to risk assessment . Discussion: The findings suggest that person‐centred counsellors conduct risk assessments taking a holistic approach involving not only individual risk predictors and characteristics of the client but also individual factors related to self.