Impaired Counselors Leads to Impaired Clients

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to define and explore counselor impairment, proving that counselor impairment is dangerous and ultimately leads to not having the ability to best serve the client who has sought professional help in the first place. There are countless reasons in which counselors in training or licensed counselors may become, or in some cases, enter the field, impaired. A survey of the various implications of such impairments are discussed. There is a pattern identified of the most common type of violation within the states in the U.S. Impairments may quickly lead to violations of the counseling code of ethics which could lead to revocation of licensure and permanent reputation defamation in the eye of the public. The foundation that has been set for the counseling profession deserves to be honored by all counseling professionals; this means intentional understanding and awareness of personal impairments and the avoidance of misconduct. Lastly, impairment prevention and counselor-wellness are discussed and encouraged.

Definition of Counselor Impairment

“Therapeutic impairment occurs when there is a significant negative impact on a counselor’s professional functioning which compromises client care or poses the potential for harm to the client” (Lawson 2005). Counselor impairment is a major cause for continuous concern for both counselors in training and counselors who have been working in the profession. Mindfulness and time for reflection about possible impairments is essential in order to maintain overall mental health and stability. Clearly, counselors, though professionally trained, are human too, just like their clients. Just like their clients, counselors experience trauma, the stressors of life, and mental fatigue.

There is a plethora of reasons as to why counselors become impaired. One reason that counselors become impaired is simply because they are worn down and feel the effects of burnout. Though helping people can prove to be highly rewarding, helping people is also exhausting work. Counselors help bear the burden of their client’s pain, emotionally traumatic experiences, and their stories. Listening to and keeping information confidential is a burden in a sense. There is a great amount of pressure for counselors due to increasing workloads, incessant requirements from insurance companies, and expectations for achieving quicker results.

Another reason in which counselors can become impaired is when they are still overcoming their own addictions or mental health challenges themselves. Counselor impairment is also defined as being, “…when the counselor is in recovery for his/her own addiction…” (Granello 2019). Many individuals may enter the counseling profession after going through therapy themselves and experiencing freedom and empowerment, however counselors may relapse in certain areas of their development and this causes impairment. “Impairment may be due to substance abuse or chemical dependency; mental illness; personal crisis (traumatic events or vicarious trauma, burnout, life crisis); and physical illness or debilitation” (Lawson 2005).

The more impaired a counselor is, the less likely they are to be as successful or effective in their practice with clients. As the old saying goes, “the blind cannot lead the blind,” in the same way a severely impaired counselor will not be able to lead an impaired client into mental health and wellness. Impaired counselors run the high risk of committing ethical misconduct, which over time, can lead to malpractice, various legal issues, fines, and/or licensure revocation. The state of Florida does not appear to provide a wealth of statistics on the top violations in the state, however it appears that the most common violation for most states in the U.S. is that of dual relationships. “Of the 30 types of violations, dual relationships occurred in the majority of the 28 states surveyed (n = 26, 92.86)” (Ahia 2017). It is somewhat understandable of how dual relationships occur; however, the overall safety of the client and the counselor is paramount. Upholding the counseling code of ethics should always be a priority in order to further the positive reputation of the profession and the counselors own personal reputation as well.

It is crucial for counselors to stay current and up to date with the ever-changing laws within the counseling profession because there are many laws that may change or shift over time. “An ongoing analysis of common legal and ethical issues associated with disciplinary actions against licensed counselors can provide the concrete data necessary to prepare counselors-in- training to enter the field with a deeper understanding of the issues they are likely to face” (Ahia 2017). Reading articles of counselors who have violated various codes of ethics as a counselor in training is recommended to be aware of how those mistakes can be avoided during training and after licensure and training is attained.

How Counselors Avoid Impairment

There are numerous measures that counselors can take in order to avoid burn out and to protect themselves against impairment. One of the first things counselors can do to prevent impairment is to practice self-care, this includes: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self-care can be incredibly challenging for people who are naturally givers. Because the counseling profession is extremely others-focused, it can be difficult to take the time necessary to reflect on your own emotional wellbeing and needs. Counselors should take time to reflect and journal their thoughts and seek healing for themselves from time to time. By actively journeying personal thoughts, it could help shed light on unresolved conflict or issues in the counselor’s own life that should be handled. Sabbaticals may be a great opportunity for a break from the constant interaction with clients. Another important practice (required by law as well) is to regularly attend continuing education courses that keep you relevant in your field of practice. “Education efforts build on counselors’ strengths, help counselors identify areas of vulnerability, and provide strategies to promote wellness” (Lawson 2005). Reading often and researching the latest changes in the counseling profession are both important practices to maintain regularly.

When time is available, participating in professional counseling organizations is beneficial as it helps counselors’ sense of community and overall wellbeing just being able to sympathize with other counselors or co-labors in the field. Counselors should also strive to create accountability with other peers who work in the field. Unethical practices may be prevented if consultation from a fellow professional peer is sought first. Counselors should also seek their own professional therapy from time to time in order to help them maintain their own mental health and wellness. In conclusion, knowing how to practically define counselor impairment is essential for entry into the field. After understanding how impairment occurs, counselors are responsible for knowing the implications and penalties of various types of impairment, many of which can lead to revocation of licensure. This consciousness of being mindful of various impairments and their implications thus leads to the ability to creatively think of effective ways in which to avoid impairment altogether. It is clear then that healthy counselors, leads to a healthy profession, which leads to the best service provided for clients who desperately need empowerment, healing, and overall wellness.

References

Ahia, C. E. & Beccone, P. J. (2017). Licensure board actions against professional counselors: Implications for counselor training. VISTAS. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/vistas.

Granello, D. H., & Young, M. E. (2019). Counseling Today: Foundations of professional identity (Custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Hunter, S. T. (2016). Beyond the breaking point: Examining the pieces of counselor burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondhand depression. VISTAS. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/vistas.

Lawson, G. & Venart, B. (2005). Preventing counselor impairment: Vulnerability, wellness, and resilience. VISTAS. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/vistas.