Goal Setting in Counseling Suicidal Ideation

Social Work with Individuals

Practice Skills: Goal Setting

Hope restoration: The client should be become more hopeful about the future and what it holds, be capable of formulating medium-term and long-term goals, etc. As per the psychotherapy model, one of the key suicidal ideation contributing factors happens to be hopelessness (McLeod, 2013). For this reason, the relevance of eliminating hopelessness cannot be overstated on this front. Towards this end, the client will be tasked with the accomplishment of happiness and morale boosting tasks. These could be inclusive of, but they are not limited to participating in visits to child shelters, active engagement in spiritual activities.

Adapt/vary though processes: In this case, deliberate actions ought to be taken to ensure that the client is able to not only identify faulty thoughts, but also replace them with thoughts that are more rational or accurate. For instance, in the present scenario, the client appears convinced that people are out to get her. Meaningful activities in this regard could be inclusive of, but they are not limited to, keeping a diary of the both positive and negative emotions and the activities that they motivate or trigger.

Minimize emotional triggers: There would be need to ensure that the client stays away from experiences, events, activities, or undertakings that trigger or result in intense emotional reactions on her part. Towards this end, the client could stay away from social media for a while or have the amount of time she spends on social media platforms on a weekly basis limited.