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Docx - paper
Orientation to Counseling Professional Identity (Liberty
University)
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Running head: COUNSELOR IMPAIRMENT: IMPLICATIONS AND PREVENTION 1
Counselor Impairment: Implications and
Prevention Kelsey Durham
Liberty University
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COUNSELOR IMPAIRMENT: IMPLICATIONS AND PREVENTION 2
Abstract
Counseling wellness has become a well-researched topic in the recent years, and many theories
exist to explain why counselor mental health is often neglected. The purpose of this paper is to
review research on counselor wellness and summarize some of the reasons whym and the
general processes that can lead to counselors becoming impaired. The impact that counsel
impairment can have on the profession of counseling will also be addressed. Methods of
combating exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and depression through intentional self-care will be
explored, as well the suggestion of integrating counselor wellness directives into master’s
program curriculums to reduce counselor impairment.
keywords: counselor impairment, ethical issues, self-care, wellness, prevention
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Definition of Impairment
Counselors are considered impaired when their counseling work is negatively affected by
a mental or physical illness, life crisis, trauma, or substance dependency in their personal lives
(Lawson &Venart,2005). What impairment looks like can vary from one counselor to another,
similarly to how mental health conditions can affect individuals in different ways. Just as those
who suffer from an anxiety disorder may not exhibit all the possible symptoms that encompass
anxiety disorders, counselors who are impaired may do not all have the same characteristics.
According to Remley, some signs of impairment include isolating oneself, personal relationships
becoming dysfunctional, drug or alcohol abuse, poor wellness habits, moodiness, and crossing
professional boundaries with clients. Some counselors who experience impairment make
unethical decisions in the practice or violate their state’s licensing codes, which can have lasting
negative impacts on their professional careers. Impairment does not usually happen overnight,
and it is important to identify the cause of the impairment and what lead up to it in order for an
impaired counselor to return to their fully operational selves.
Counselors often experience symptoms of stress and the feeling of “burnout” before
losing their professional abilities to counsel effectively. Burnout is when the sacrifices involved
in a career outweighs the rewarding aspects of it. Sometimes the root of the stress that leads to
burnout or impairment is who exactly the counselor is trying to help. Certain types clients can
sometimes cause considerable distress in counselors, according to Remley, clients with
personality disorders, sex offenders, and clients who are abusive can cause distress in counselors
which can put them at risk to burnout and eventually impairment. A counselor’s own mental
health issues also play a role in becoming burned out and eventually impaired. Lawson and
Venart argue that one contributing factor of counselor impairment is living in the mentality that
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because they help people overcome difficult times in their life, they can help themselves to do
the same without outside assistance (Lawson & Venart, 2005). Not seeking help when needed
and making wellness a priority in a career that can often be isolating because of the
confidentiality involved can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to the mental health of
counselors. Due to the emotionally demanding nature of the career, professional counselors have
a high chance of suffering from what Hunter refers to as “second-hand depression,” which is
similar to clinical depression, however this type of depression effects people who are in a
helping profession, particularly involved with helping people who suffer from depression
(Hunter, 2005). Depression and secondhand depression can affect one’s ability to function in
their work, family, and social lives (Lam, Kennedy, McIntyre, Khullar, 2014), therefore when
the mental health of a counselor is suffering, the choices they make in their practice may suffer
as well. Counselors who become impaired have the potential to hurt their clients, by having
lapses in judgement and poor coping mechanisms which may lead to dual or romantic
relationships with their clients. Some less obvious but still major side effects of a counselor
whose mental health is suffering is exhaustion, poor time management, improper documentation,
and missing counseling sessions altogether (Hunter, 2005).
Implications of Impairment
Counselor impairment can have long-term effects on both the counselor and the client.
Because impairment involves diminished professional skills, it is not surprising that the
counseling client suffers when their counselor is experiencing mental health roadblocks. Clients
receiving care under an impaired counselor may receive care that is lacking in quality or can
even experience negligence (Carrola, 2016). A counselor who is impaired may be more likely to
arrive late to or miss counseling sessions, which could negatively impact a client who was
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experiencing distress themselves. Because of strict regulations set forth by state licensing boards,
clients are not the only people that suffer as a result of counselor impairment. Counselors who
violate their state’s licensing laws are subject to the consequences outlined by the board.
Ethical misconduct among counselors occurs in all 50 states, and most state counseling
licensing boards display case decisions for violations on their websites. According to the
Virginia Counseling Board website, the most frequently occurring ethical violations involve
participation in dual relationships with clients and failure to maintain continuing education
requirements set by the board. In the 2017 study done by Ahia and Boccone, the most occurring
violations across the country were identical. They reported that dual relationships are the second
most violated action across the country, and that failing to meet continuing education
requirements was the number one offense. Unprofessional conduct, practicing outside of the
scope of their license, and being convicted of a crime unrelated to counseling were other top
violations the study found (Ahia & Boccone, 2017).
The violations made in Virginia and across the U.S can be met with serious
consequences, ranging from probation, to suspension, and even to termination of one’s
counseling license altogether. Counselors that are in residency to become licensed can become
ineligible for licensure when the violate their state licensure regulations. Probation terms and
reinstatement requirements can force counselors into dealing with their troubles by requiring
counselors to show proof that they are participating in professional counseling. Counselors who
have been convicted of state board violations may be required to practice under a board-certified
counseling supervision for a set period of time and pay for the cost of the supervision
themselves. The severity of the consequence is dependent on the type and severity of
misconduct.
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Case decisions for counselors is public information, therefore potential clients can view
violations made by counselors online. In some cases, counselors who violate counseling
regulations may be required to notify future mental health employers of their violations by
providing a copy of the order. Other professional counselors are also made aware of board
violations, as the names of violators are listed in newsletters sent to members of the profession
within each state (Granello & Young, 2019). While the research on how the public views
counselors is lacking, it is safe to assume that prospective clients may be hesitant to see a
counselor that has a case listed on their state’s board of counseling website.
Impairment Prevention-what counselors can do to protect against impairment
Self -care, as defined by Blount, Taylor, Lambie, and Anwell (2016) is the “necessity of
taking care of one’s self in order to be a better asset to supervisees and clients.” While it is
engrained into our minds that the needs of the client are the most important aspect of a
counseling relationship, counselors are unable to use their abilities in a safe and helpful manor if
their own mental health is suffering. The best thing a counselor can do to avoid impairment is to
address their own personal needs in the form of self- care (Hunter, 2016). Maintaining a
balanced diet, regular exercise, and getting adequate sleep are good starting points (Hunter,
2016).
Because the workload can often quite heavy for professional counselors, it is important to learn
to balance one’s work and family life by limiting case load when necessary and spending more
time with friends and family (Lawson & Ventart,2005). Having the support of friends and
family can promote wellness in counselors because they can often see the signs of distress when
we are unable to (Lawson & Venart,2005). The ACA Code of Ethics places some responsibility
on fellow counselors to also lookout for signs of behaviors or signs of impairment among each
other, and to encourage counselors to seek assistance when necessary (ACA, 2014, C.2.g.).
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Self-awareness and self- care are necessary when practicing as a professional counselor,
however, it is important to implement these ideas before counselors begin to work with clients.
According to Hunter, a vital step towards counselor wellness is to make counseling students
aware of the warning signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, and exhaustion, that can lead to
impairment (2016). Ahia and Boccone concur with the importance of becoming self-aware of
the risk factors involved in counseling before starting one’s practice and take it one step further
by proposing that it should a part of graduate level curriculum, and even adopted by CACREP as
an objective that all counseling students should be taught (2017).
Conclusion
Because client safety and well-being are at the forefront of a counseling professional’s
ethical responsibilities, the well-being of the counselor can often be overlooked. Teaching
counseling students how to identify signs of exhaustion, burn out and impairment is one
suggestion to reduce counselor impairment and ethical violations (Ahia & Boccone,2017).
Practicing continuous self-care is another vital preventative measure that professional counselors
can take to avoid impairment and other the negative side effects of a career in counseling.
Overlooking one’s mental health can be detrimental to both the counselor and the client, so it is
important to diligently monitor ourselves as well as our colleagues to ensure the safety of our
clients.
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References
Ahia, C.E. & Boccone, P.J. (2017). Licensure board actions against professional
counselors: Implicationsfor counselor training. VISTAS. Retrieved from
https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/vistas.
American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. American
Counseling Association: Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-
source/ethics/2014-code-of-ethics.pdf?sfvrsn=2d58522c_4
Blount, A. J., Taylor, D.D., Lambie, G.W. & Anwell, A.N (2016) Clinical Supervisors’
Perceptions of wellness: A phenomenological view on supervisee wellness.
The Professional Counselor, 6(4), 360–374. doi:10.15241/ab.6.4.360
Granello, D. H., & Young, M. E. (2019). Counseling today: Foundations of professional identity
(2nd 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
Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. P. (2016). Ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling (Custom 5th
ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
