The Absence of Assessment Tools in Counseling Risk for Liability Essay

The absence of assessment tools in counseling increases a counselor’s risk for liability. Without accountability or measurement, a counselor would lack direction, focus, and structure and become vulnerable to implementing inappropriate interventions. Therefore, assessment is a vehicle used to provide quality services and safeguard the parties involved from deviating from the client’s problems.

Imagine you are a counselor conducting an intake interview with a client. What types of assessment questions would you include for the psychosocial history of the client? Why?

Imagine the client brings results of previous psychological testing with them. How will you determine if the test results are meaningful, useful, and an accurate assessment of the client?

Now, imagine you and your classmates are part of a treatment team. Consider the case study provided and answer the following questions:

• Considering the American Counseling Association’s (ACA’s) code of ethics, what are some goals you might plan for the treatment of the client?
• What are the various ways in which you can measure your treatment goals?

Planning a treatment transcript

Planning a Treatment Susan Smith is a fifty-five-year-old African American woman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has no children or spouse, and she resides alone. She has been working as a cashier at a local grocery store for the last thirteen years. Susan was earlier employed as a nursing assistant. Although she enjoyed working at the nursing home, she had to resign because she had developed a back problem due to lifting and manual labor involved in the job. Although her work as a cashier causes less strain on her back, occasionally, she experiences some strain on her back due to standing for long hours at the cash register. She enjoys her work because she has interpersonal contact with her customers, and she engages them in brief conversations. She also enjoys the walk from her home to the workplace. The precipitating problem that led Susan to seek counseling is her experience of grief due to the loss of her father two years ago. Her mother is seriously ill and may not survive for more than a year. Susan has a brother who lives with his family in New York City. She has minimal contact with him due to his preoccupation with his family and career. Susan does not have a social network because she is shy and reserved. She lacks self-confidence to seek friends, and her fears of the impending loneliness and emptiness upon the death of her mother is creating anxiety.