Assume a hypothetical situation of your choosing as a context for your survey. The pre-design phase consists primarily of conducting a needs assessment, to establish the need for t

In the Standards of Practice, Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) outlined the importance of honouring boundaries of competence and referring clients when their needs exceed the counsellor’s competence (CCPA, 2021). The CCPA also outlined the duty to warn, in that counsellors have a responsibility to take protective action when a client poses a danger to themselves or others. Briere & Scott (2015) suggested that a primary focus of assessment in trauma treatment includes whether the client is in imminent danger of harm to the self or inflicting harm on others, as the physical safety of the client and others is paramount. The authors also noted that empirically validated assessment tools should be used, however less formal and unstructured exchanges with the client can also be useful. Assessment tools such as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) could be used to help assess imminent danger and decide on a course of treatment (Cwik et al., 2020). If through screening and assessment, the risk of suicide or harm to others is identified, I would seek support from other professionals. In my area, I could seek support from the Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s mental health services (Peterborough Regional Health Centre, 2022).