Counselor Ethics

I am a Substance Use Disorder counselor and have a client who is severely depressed. I know working on his depression is outside my scope of practice and am encouraging him to see a mental health counselor. However he is not completely ready and it has taken a long time to build his trust in me to talk about his depression and the situations causing it. So I am continuing to work with him on his depression despite not being qualified while encouraging him to seek more appropriate help (which he might not ever do).

Well hello and welcome....

I don't think I've seen a post quite like this one- I kept my moderator hat on, and voted to tell them they need to see a MH professional- which is our official stance here.

We are a peer-support forum, only. No professionals are allowed to post in a professional capacity at all; merely as fellow sufferers of whatever brings them here for their own help. So you won't be hearing from anyone in a professional capacity on this. I... am pretty certain I have a form of chronic depression; however I lack a Dx. I have a feeling, however, that most of the forum regulars here with a Dx, would probably also opt for them seeing someone who deals in it.

If they absolutely will not see someone qualified, there's naught you can do about that, except I suppose to remind them every time they wish to touch on it, that they must take anything you say in that area, with a grain of salt. I do admire your honesty with them about your limitations.

I take it, that anyone they do see about it, will be fully briefed on the fact they're also being counseled for substance use... I would imagine you need to be sure to aim them towards someone who doesn't just throw pills at people?

Snaga wrote:Well hello and welcome....

We are a peer-support forum, only. No professionals are allowed to post in a professional capacity at all; merely as fellow sufferers of whatever brings them here for their own help. So you won't be hearing from anyone in a professional capacity on this. I... am pretty certain I have a form of chronic depression; however I lack a Dx. I have a feeling, however, that most of the forum regulars here with a Dx, would probably also opt for them seeing someone who deals in it.



I take it, that anyone they do see about it, will be fully briefed on the fact they're also being counseled for substance use... I would imagine you need to be sure to aim them towards someone who doesn't just throw pills at people?

Thank you for allowing it to be posted, I was not sure where to turn to get advice on this. It has been quite a struggle and I know he would be better suited with a more qualified professional, and I am trying to continue pushing him in that direction, but he is quite resistant (trauma ya know) which leaves me trying to do my best to keep it from getting worse.

I am trying to get him to see our in-house mental health counselor who has already been briefed on some of his background and since they work in the same agency knows he is getting treated for SUD. Additionally, although we do have a Psych ARNP on site I am only trying to get him to see the counselor as I think he needs more counseling and guidance than meds.

Thank you again. I just want to do the best I can for him. If you know of any more professional based forums please let me know.

I can't think of one offhand. Our direct competitors are also peer-support. I see a lot of clickbait out there when doing a search for professional forums, you'll have some weeding to do.

In-house didn't occur to me- that would be ideal, wouldn't it? if they could be convinced to do so. If they have internet, possible at least have them look thru here or one of the other peer forums- I can think of one specifically for depression, that I used to visit a little. Maybe at least reading others' stories and experiences with getting help might spur them to get the counseling they need in that area. Maybe they could talk to one of the other clients there who see someone for depression? I don't know, just throwing out ideas.