Problem:
During the current session, I would prioritize a comprehensive suicide and safety risk assessment to clarify the client's statement about "ending this turmoil." This would include direct, culturally sensitive questioning regarding suicidal ideation, intent, plan, and means, as well as assessment of risk to the children. Given the presence of IPV, visible injuries, and depressive symptoms, I would also initiate immediate safety planning focused on harm reduction, identifying safe contacts, emergency resources, and steps the client can take if risk escalates. Transparency regarding limits of confidentiality would be emphasized in alignment with ACA ethical standards (American Counseling Association, 2014).
In a future session, once immediate safety is addressed, I would utilize a trauma-informed and culturally responsive intervention, such as empowerment-based counseling, to support the client in exploring the impact of IPV on her mental health, self-worth, and autonomy (Stylianou, 2019; Gladding, 2017). This approach would aim to strengthen coping strategies, reduce isolation, and collaboratively identify longer-term supports, including community-based IPV advocacy services and ongoing mental health treatment for depressive symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2022; Moore et al., 2025). Need Assignment Help?