National Counselor Exam (NCE)

If a client jokes about committing suicide, what should the counselor assess?

1. Whether the client is joking

2. Whether the client has a suicide plan and the means

3. If other clients overheard the joke

4. The room's environment during the session

The correct answer is: Whether the client has a suicide plan and the means

When a client jokes about committing suicide, it's essential for the counselor to assess whether the client has a suicide plan and the means to carry it out. This is crucial because joking about suicide can often mask serious underlying issues that require immediate attention. Understanding if there’s a specific plan or means is vital as it helps the counselor evaluate the immediate risk to the client's safety. Clients may use humor as a coping mechanism to deal with overwhelming feelings of hopelessness or despair. Therefore, even if a comment is made in jest, the seriousness of the situation must be acknowledged, and appropriate assessment is needed to ensure the client's well-being. A thorough risk assessment can aid in identifying the severity of the client's thoughts and intentions, allowing the counselor to take necessary action if there is a risk of harm. Other factors, such as whether the client was joking or if others overheard it, are secondary to the immediate concern for the client's safety. The environment of the session may also provide context but does not directly address the critical need to ascertain whether the client has a specific plan or means of following through with suicidal thoughts.