Never ready: Addictions counselors dealing with client death

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of addictions counselors who have undergone client death and the immediate and long-lasting impacts of client death on addictions counselors through the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method. We conducted semistructured interviews with 10 participants exploring their lived, in-depth, experiences in working with clients with addictive disorders with focus given to the death of clients and how they responded to the experience. Results from a data analysis process using the CQR method indicate eight domains: (a) professional ethics, (b) coping skills, (c) client care, (d) preparation for profession, (e) experience of addiction, (f) agency impact, (g) exploring the death experience, (h) recommendations, and 28 categories embedded in each of these domains. Implications for counselor education, training, and practice are discussed. K E Y W O R D Saddictions counselors, client death, client care, consensual qualitative research, grief and loss NEVER READY: ADDICTIONS COUNSELORS DEALING WITH CLIENT DEATH THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF SUD-RELATED DEATHAlthough many individuals who bereave respond to bereavement adaptively, it is imperative to identify risk factors for those who might develop bereavement-related negative consequences such as mental health conditions (Crunk et al., 2017). In order to promote such efforts, it is critical to