Colorado Technical University Foundations of Individual Counseling Discussion
ANSWER
Handling Tarasoff law requires tact, managing aggressiveness, confidentiality boundaries, and ethical issues. These are how you can address each of these:
1. Tarasoff Law and Confidentiality Limitations:
Client explanation: You should utilize understandable and compassionate language when outlining the boundaries of confidentiality and Tarasoff law to the client. You may perhaps say the following:
“I want to talk about the boundaries of our confidentially before we move forward. We usually keep our chats private out of respect for your confidence and privacy. Nonetheless, there are circumstances in which I am compelled by law to violate confidentiality. One instance of this would be if I thought you were a danger to others or yourself. This implies that I might have to take action to protect safety if your ex-fiance, his best friend, or anybody else is the target of threats or symptoms of harm.”
Method for Handling Legal Matters: a. Confidentiality Limitations: Constantly remind clients of the value of honest dialogue and mutual trust while highlighting that their welfare is your priority.
b. Tarasoff Law: You have to record any explicit threats or plans to harm others that the client makes, evaluate their veracity, and take appropriate action. This may entail alerting law enforcement, the intended targets, and his support system to guarantee everyone’s safety.
2. Controlling Hostility:
Try the following actions if the client finds it difficult to restrain his hostility during sessions:
A. De-escalation Strategies: Teach the client how to control their anger and use de-escalation strategies. Motivate them to identify stressors and employ coping mechanisms to control their rage.
b. Emergency Plan: Create a safety plan that the client can use in an emergency. This strategy should include leaving the situation or contacting for assistance to avert harm to oneself or others.
c. Referral: To address the root reasons for the client’s anger, you may consider referring him to specialized anger management or therapy programs if his aggression is still out of control.
3. What to Do If Aggression Continues:
Should the client’s aggressive behavior persist and present a serious risk to others, you might have a moral and legal duty to protect possible victims. This might entail:
1. Prompt Reporting: Getting in touch with law enforcement and giving them all the pertinent details regarding the client’s threats or violent inclinations.
b. Emergency Intervention: In the event of an urgent danger, you might have to move quickly to protect possible victims by getting in touch with the intended targets and calling in crisis intervention agencies, among other measures.
4. Moral Question:
Determined Ethical Issue: In this instance, the possible inconsistency between the obligations to safeguard the client’s privacy and to avert harm to prospective victims is one ethical concern.
Approach to Ethical Issue: It takes time to balance these competing ethical obligations. This can be resolved by:
a. Informed Consent: Clearly communicate to the client at the outset of therapy that their well-being is your priority but that you also have ethical and legal duties to maintain confidentiality.
b. Cooperation: Work with the client to identify strategies for controlling their agitation and hostility without endangering other people’s safety. Urge them to be honest about their feelings and struggles.
b. Document Everything: To guarantee openness and show adherence to ethical standards, meticulously record all interactions, conversations, and decisions about this case.
It is imperative in this intricate issue to strike a balance between secrecy, legal requirements, and ethical standards to protect everyone’s safety and well-being. Seek regular guidance from a supervisor or legal specialist to properly manage these obstacles.
Question Description
I don’t understand this Social Science question and need help to study.
Your supervisor asks you to see a critical client who is high risk for harming others. He is a 25 year old veteran who is starting to show signs of aggression in your office when he talks about his 18 year old ex-fiancé who just left him for his best friend. You are going to open this case and need to explain to the client the limits of confidentiality and Tarasoff law.
- Discuss the limits of confidentiality and Tarasoff law with this client and why they are important.
- How will you present this information to the client? Explain one way you would approach each of these legal issues.
- If he is unable to get his aggression under control, what might be your course of action?
- Identify one ethical issue in this case. Explain one way you would approach the ethical issue.