Suicide in Counseling - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1449 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Suicide Essay Did you like this example? Client suicide is one of the greatest fears of all counselors. Suicide prevention is a difficult and commonly avoided area of counseling. Client confidentiality is of utmost importance, but when a client indicates that he or she may be suicidal, counselors have a duty to report this to family members and authorities. Contrary to common belief, there are several effective suicide treatments for adolescents and adults. Using these techniques, first counselors must help clients out of the actively suicidal state, and then they must help the client develop the skills needed to create and uphold lives worth living (Meyers, 2017). Clients may be asked to sign a No-Suicide contract or a Commitment to Treatment contract. These can be helpful in certain instances, but if the counselor-client relationship is strained or new, clients can feel as though they are being made to sign the contract to shift moral blame away from the therapist in the event of a tragedy, although the contract is in no way legally binding. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year-olds (Canady, 2017). Seventy-one percent of psychotherapists report having at least one client who has attempted suicide, and twenty-eight percent of psychotherapists report having had at least one client die by suicide (Firestone, 2018). It is an unfortunately common event that most practitioners will experience in their careers. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Suicide in Counseling" essay for you Create order For most counselors, an ethical dilemma is apparent when they encounter a confounding situation in which they feel hindered in their decision making because there appears to be conflict between or inconsistency among the ethical standards, the situation is so compounded that the ethical codes offer unhelpful guidance, there appears to be a discrepancy between ethical and legal standards, or there appears to be a conflict between the moral principles that underlie most ethical codes. If the correct route to take in a counselling situation is unclear, the ACAs ethical decision-making model may need to be employed (Forester-Miller Davis, 2018). When making an ethical clinical decision it is essential to consider both personal bias (ACA, 2014, A.4.b) and level of professional competence (ACA, 2014, C.2.a) A 30-year-old client named John decides to speak to a counselor because he has been feeling down. His thirtieth birthday was a month ago, and since then he has been overwhelmed with the feeling that he is not where he expected to be at this point in his life. He married young and has been divorced for five years. He is estranged from his parents and he does not have any siblings. He did not complete college and complains about his unrewarding and tiresome job. He lives alone and struggles to find a healthy balance for his life, saying that he usually only works, comes home, drinks, and watches TV before falling into a restless sleep, repeating the cycle weekly. He mentions that he enjoyed hunting, but he can no longer find the will to do even what he enjoys. He does not explicitly mention thoughts of suicide, but he shows many of the warning signs. He states that he feels as though his current life is pointless and unimportant. John shows signs of isolation and feelings of worthlessness. He has not expressed true a desire to improve his life, only that there may be a problem, putting him in the contemplation stage of change. He has taken the first step of attending counseling, but he does not seem as though he will continue attending counseling long-term. His love of hunting indicates that he has access to firearms. Studies have shown that when there are no firearms in a household, there are fewer suicide deaths. John lives in a rural area, where it has been shown that suicide attempts are more often successful than in urban areas (Westefeld, Gann, Lustgarten, and Yeates, 2016). John also has a high rate of alcohol consumption which is a factor in 50% of suicides (Firestone, 2018). The mind of a suicidal person is working against itself. A part of the client wants to live, while another part is self-destructive. All suicides have elements of both planning and of spontaneity. Therefore, therapists must act quickly and precisely if suicidal thoughts are suspected or stated. There are many thought patterns common in suicidal clients including self-hatred, hopelessness, isolation and pushing away loved ones, feeling like a misfit, and feeling like a burden. There are also many common behaviors like past suicide attempt(s), sleeplessness, anxiety and agitation, rage outbursts and low problem tolerance, risky behavior, alcohol use, sudden positive shift in mood, and any direct talk of suicide related behavior (Firestone, 2018). The stakeholders and main decision-makers in this situation should be a collaborative effort between the client and the counselor. If the counselor is still unsure of what to do or feels that the client is being untruthful or flawed in his ass essment of himself, the counselor can talk with other counselors for a second or third opinion on the plan of action. John should be encouraged to continue counseling. The counselor does not want to hurt Johns already weakened sense of pride by suggesting that he may be suicidal, but neither does she want to avoid a life-threatening possibility. John does not have family who could be alerted or friends nearby. The only people who could offer him support are his co-workers. It would be a breach in confidentiality to alert them, however (Ethical, 2018). The counselor fears that John is not expressing his suicidal thoughts for fear of the consequences laid out in the informed consent agreement. John is in a high risk demographic group because he is male, white, and unmarried, but this is also an extremely high false positive group (Fowler, 2012). If a client is thought to be suicidal, the best course of action is to ask the client directly, difficult as this may be. John should be asked to sign a commitment to treatment agreement. This could encourage him to take the counseling process seriously and could assist in his symptom improvement. John appears to be suffering from depression. He could be referred to a doctor for an antidepressant. He should be encouraged to exercise, eat well, and drink less alcohol; all mood and energy boosters. Exercise could help improve his quality of sleep. If he had family nearby, they might be able to assist in removing the guns from Johns home and providing him with support. John has been asked to put his firearms in a remote location that he does not have immediate access to, but John has denied the request, citing his need for protection in the event of a burglary although he lives in a very safe area of the country. This is also an indicator that he is unreasonably paranoid, a warning sign for suicide. The only other option is to alert authorities, but this could make John turn away from counseling completely and send him deeper into his depression (Westefeld et al., 2016). In the first session with John, a relatively high-risk client, I would assess his current suicide risk. Next I would communicate my intent to understand more about his life and what makes living difficult for him. Lastly, I would ask John if he would be willing to negotiate treatment options and make a plan for managing his well-being, immediate risk removal, and symptom improvement. Suicidal states are often triggered by unbearably painful emotions associated with feeling abandoned, alone, alienated, and disconnected, all of which John is experiencing. In those most vulnerable to suicide, the capacity to think clearly and flexibly collapses, and suicide emerges as a means of escaping unbearable pain. Treatments that focus on restoring the capacity to reflect on strong emotions, and to weather affective storms are emerging as highly effective in reducing the occurrence of suicide-related behaviors. Techniques aimed at improving tolerance for, and improved modulation of, intense affe ct include radical acceptance, mindfulness acceptance, insight-oriented interpretation, and mentalizing, to name a few. In my practice I use all elements to fit the needs of the patients but rely heavily on enhancing the patients curiosity about their emotions because suicidal patients like Esther are nearly phobic of negative emotions. The most accurate predictor of suicide is past suicide attempts (. John has denied ever attempting suicide before. Clients presenting for treatment with active suicidal ideation and intent must be assessed for risk. As a new counselor or counselor in training, I would probably conduct a formal suicide interview. Fowler (2012) says it is best to communicate interest in the clients suffering and to invite them to speak openly about their struggles. Counselors should work to understand the clients reasoning for wanting death and aim to create a sufficient empathic reply to their internal pain in the form of marked mirroring.

Animal Cruelty Essay - 1535 Words

Renà © Descartes, a famous philosopher, once argued that, â€Å"animals are not sentient- they are machines, like mechanical clocks, devoid of feelings and incapable of experiencing pleasure or pain† (Vaughn). Today, unlike Descartes, most people believe that animals are intrinsically or instrumentally valuable, also, whether they have or deserve any rights. Defining what cruelty is has been very subjective. To some people. An animal is just property and they can beat it around as much as they want, to others, animals are part of their family and they would never lay a finger on them. There is legislation against animal cruelty but because there is so much subjectivity, the legislation fails to deter people from abusing their animals. For there†¦show more content†¦They just do not see that as being animal cruelty. Most people believe that it is wrong to be cruel to animals. Within different societies, animals are treated differently. Depending on how and or where a person was raised, an animal could be a loved pet that is part of their family, or they could just treat it as property and a tool that is just there for their personal use. According to Ohio law if a person owns a dog then it is considered a companion animal, no matter if it is kept in their residential dwelling or not. IN one situation the owner keeps their dog in their house and it is a part of the family. They treat their dog like a baby, petting, playing, and cuddling with it. In another situation the owner keeps their fog outside and uses it as a watchdog. The only interaction with the dog is just checking to make sure it has food and water, and maybe a quick pat on the head, and gives it a â€Å"good dog† praise. It is quite easy to see that he first person loves their dog. It is not so easy to tell in the second situation. They may truly love their dog and that was how they were raised to treat it. They could also have emotional attachments to the dog, such as being proud, without really caring about the dog. Kind of like my dog is bigger than your dog pride. Within the law both situations are considered equal, even though they are unequal in the emotional attachment to their animals. Living inShow MoreRelatedAnimal Cruelty And The Prevention Of Cruelty1434 Words   |  6 PagesPrevention of Cruelty to Animals, better known as the ASPCA is a non profit organization that focuses on preventing animal cruelty. The mission of the ASPCA is â€Å"to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States† (ASPCA). Animal cruelty and neglect are huge problems in the United States, therefore organizations such as the ASPCA are needed to start the process of prevention. The ASPCA website is used to to bring awareness to the issue of animal cruelty throughRead MoreAnimal Cruelty And Animal Abuse879 Words   |  4 Pages Animal Abuse is when someone hurts an animal or does not care for the animal responsibly. It’s against the law to hard or be cruel to animals. It’s also called animal cruelty. The topic is going to be over is animal abuse. There’s a lot of people against animal abuse. A lot of researchers try to find a way to stop animal abuse. The FBI is conducting an investigation to find out a way to serve justice to those that abuse animals. Animal abuse has been going on for a very long time now and it needRead MoreAnimal Cruelty Should Be Punished1665 Words   |  7 Pages Animal Cruelty There are many cruel things that people are doing to hurt and neglect animals. This is called animal cruelty, and animal cruelty is when someone harms an animal or does not care for that animal responsibly, such as not giving a cat or dog food or water and not providing them with veterinary care. People who neglect animals should be punished and not have the right to own an animal because animal cruelty is a law and a felony and many people areRead MoreThe Aspc Preventing Animal Cruelty1485 Words   |  6 PagesThe ASPCA: Preventing Animal Cruelty One Animal at a Time The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, better known as the ASPCA is a nonprofit organization that focuses on preventing animal cruelty. The mission of the ASPCA is â€Å"to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States† (ASPCA). Animal cruelty and neglect are tremendous problems in the United States, therefore, organizations such as the ASPCA are needed to start the processRead MoreThe Cruelty Of Animal Cruelty1224 Words   |  5 Pagesmind as I grudgingly watch a woman eat a cheeseburger while wearing a t-shirt with the phrase My Favorite Breed is RESCUED blasted on the front. With every bite I delve deeper into the question of what exactly is animal cruelty and why does society differentiate between which animals are worthy and not worthy of liberation. Humans have not only been hidden skillfully from the atrocious truth that is factory farming, but many choose to remain ignorant as it is easier to igno re the cries of cattleRead MoreThe Link between Animal Cruelty and Society1041 Words   |  4 PagesThe Link between Animal Cruelty and Society â€Å"The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but Can they suffer?† ― Jeremy Bentham, The Principles of Morals and Legislation. As a society we have come to see animal cruelty as a heinous crime, and that’s great progress. However, not everyone is following the notion. Animal cruelty is still very prevalent, and sadly its abhorrent results are often neglected and overlooked. Although it isn’t always to the same extent of atrocious consequencesRead MoreThe Cruelty Of Animals And Animal Abusers Lie Behind The Curtain1499 Words   |  6 PagesAnimals have shown their love throughout history to humans and we have shown ours. The love of animals is broad and unlimited, but humans continue to abuse their pets and destroy their loyalty. Why do people do this? Why do humans demolish animals lives? The answer lies behind the curtain. The curtain in which animal abusers lie behind. An impenetrable curtain that law reinforcement cannot take the cruel men out of. Try as they might, the abomination continues. Some though, get what they deserveRead MoreAnimal Cruelty959 Words   |  4 PagesAnimals are subjects to inhumane treatment by the hands of many individuals, however there is little done in order to protect them from this form of physical and neglectful treatment. Though there are several laws against this type of conduct, a great deal of animal abuse is unforeseen and these animals are victims whom cannot protect themselves. The state of New York describes felony animal cruelty as, â€Å"intentionally and without just cause seriously injuring or killing an animal† (Iannacone 2011)Read MoreAnimal Cruelty Is A Crime Against Humanity1246 Words   |  5 PagesIn order to constitute animal cruelty as a Crime Against Humanity we must prove that society is ignoring the violence towards them despite the research evidence, the government sanctions mass killings of them, and that this type of violence affects humans on a large scale (Plant, Schaik, Gullone, Flynn 2016). Although di spositional factors such as empathy and aggression may influence animal cruelty, we must look at the environmental factors that lead to the negative effects from a macro-level perspectiveRead MoreAnimal Cruelty : The Impacts Of Animal On Animals1609 Words   |  7 PagesPROPOSED STUDY: Title: Animal Cruelty: The impacts of animal cruelty on animals focusing on puppy farming and bullfighting and why abusiveness towards animals occurs. Background: There are multiple reasons why an individual may be cruel to animals, the main reasons include psychological issues, culture and also for the beneficial factor. The psychological angle towards animal abuse is often due to negative thoughts. If an individual is under a lot of stress and or pressure, they may like to vent

Discussing Jaws Essay Example For Students

Discussing Jaws Essay Jaws is a 1975 thriller film directed by Steven Spielsperg. The film is based on a novel wrote by Peter Benchley called stillness in the water. The film itself is based on a giant Great White Shark browsing and attacking innocent people on Amity island on the week of fourth of July, this certain week is when a vast amount of tourists from all over America gather to celebrate when America went independent from the British Empire. The filming effects of this film is really effective because it helps tension build up in the audience by using different camera angles, when the shark is going to attack its victim it uses point of view angles (P. O. V), the certain angle builds up tension by letting us see how and who the shark is going to attack, also it doesnt let us see the shark, that builds up abit more tension because we dont know what shark it is and how big it is, another way Spielsperg builds tension is the music made by john Williams when it plays as the shark is getting closer on attacking its prey, it starts of slow an quiet gradually getting louder and faster then stops when its just about to attack its victim. Another angle used is the medium shot mainly used in the second attack showing all the different people the shark could attack. The first attack involves a young woman called Chrissie Jones who is having a beach party in the early morning. She goes out for a swim with a man who is clearly drunk. The man doesnt go in the water but Chrissie does. While in the water she is pulled under by an unseen predator which turned out to be the shark. The next morning Chrissie is discovered by Chief Brody played by Roy Schneider. After this attack he decides to close the beaches but shortly overruled by the towns Mayor (Mayor Vaughn) because he is afraid that discovery of a shark attack will ruin the profit and tourism of Fourth of July. The medical examiner claims to chief Brody that this was no shark attack it was simply a boat accident but chief Brody will not stand by that thought. Later In the day a second attack occurred on the Beach of Amity Island. A young boy called Alex Kintner went in the water on a Lillo but when he goes out the camera shows all the opportunities that the shark can attack. Also we are fooled by the film creating fake tension for example the woman screaming in the water but it is actually her boyfriend and the old man that comes up in a black swimming hat making it look like the sharks fin, this all happens when chief Brody is talking to someone but the chief just looks straight through him and keeps his mind targeted on the water. Eventually after all the fake tension camera angles go on the point of view angles this is showing the sharks angle and where its attacking which is the young boy on the Lillo everyone on shore sees the attack and there is an immediate rush to get all the children playing and the adults out of the water as quick as possible but chief Brody doesnt go in the water because he doesnt like it. After the tension has died down the mother of Alex Kintner comes screaming Alex, where are you etc then breaks down into tears when the remains of the Lillo is washed up.

Models Of Political Ideology Essays - Political Philosophy

Models of Political Ideology Political ideology in American Society can get a little confusing. This is due partially to the fact that the most commonly used model to explain political ideology is too simple. The linear model, as it is sometimes called, puts the ideological spectrum on a straight line. This model often leaves researcher's wondering about ideologies because it ties groups together that may have absolutely different ideas. Also, the linear model does not perfectly predict each point. A better way to explain the ideological spectrum is with the square model. This model puts the ideological spectrum in five dimensions, giving it a better representation of the ideological spectrum. First, however, to explain the importance of the square model verses the linear model, the understanding of the different elements involved in these models must be explained. There are five main elements/political philosophies in most American political ideology models: left-liberal, right-conservative, authoritarian, libertarian, and moderate. The first, left-liberals, believe in governing themselves on personal matters, but they want government to control economics. The left-liberals "want government to serve the disadvantaged in the name of fairness. Leftists tolerate social diversity, but work for economic equality" (Libertarian 1). The opposite of the left-liberals is the right-conservatives. This group believes in free-markets with government putting a check on personal freedom. "Right-conservatives prefer self-government on economic issues, but want official standards in personal matters. They want the government to defend the community from threats to its moral fiber" (Libertarian 1). The next group is the libertarians. The libertarians want little government help or control. "Libertarians are self-governors in both personal and economic matters. They believe government's only purpose is to protect people from coercion and violence. They value individual responsibility, and tolerate economic and social diversity" (Libertarian 1). The opposite of the libertarian is the authoritarian. Authoritarians believe that government should have control, that people should get equality through government. "Authoritarians want government to advance society and individuals through expert central planning. They often doubt whether self-government is practical. Left-authoritarians are also called socialists, while fascists are right-authoritarians" (Libertarian 2). The last main group and probably the largest are the moderates. The moderates are the mediators, and they often accept new ideas about how things should be ran. "Moderates favor selective government intervention and emphasize practical solutions to current problems. They tend to keep an open mind on new issues. Many moderates feel that government serves as a check on excessive lib erty" (Libertarian 1). In definition these five elements to the ideological spectrum sound simple, but when you start to place them in a model to things begin to get blurred up. The first model discussed was the linear model. The linear model is good at showing the difference between two opposites, but gets extremely difficult when discussing four different categories. To start, when placing left-liberal and right-conservative on the linear model it is obvious that left-liberal will go on the left side and right-conservative will go on the right. Then it is also fair to say that the moderates are somewhere in the middle. The problem, however, is when another element is added such as libertarians. Libertarians can not go in the middle because that is where the moderates are. Libertarians, also, can not go on the left or right because they are equally connected to both conservatives and liberals. The liberals believe in social freedom just like the libertarians, but the liberals do not believe in economic freedom like the libertarians. And just the opposite, the conservatives believe in economic freedom like the libertarians, but do not believe in social freed om like the libertarians. So, where should the libertarians be placed on the linear model? They cannot be, despite undying measures used to place them somewhere. Also the same problem arises when the authoritarians are placed on the model. Then another problem arises, authoritarians and libertarians are not equal, yet it on a linear model they both must be placed in the same spot. This spot of course is where the confusion arises. It is that the libertarians and authoritarians either do not get placed on the linear model or they are incorrectly placed with the conservatives being connected to the right authoritarians and libertarians