What should be a counselor's priority when engaging with a suicidal client?

When engaging with a suicidal client, the most important priority for a counselor is to assess risk and ensure immediate safety. This involves evaluating the client's level of suicidal ideation, intent, and plan, along with any means they might have to carry out the plan. Rapidly identifying these factors is crucial in determining the appropriate interventions needed to safeguard the client.

Addressing immediate safety helps establish a foundation of trust and shows the client that their well-being is the counselor's primary concern. Ensuring that the client is safe allows for a more stable environment in which the counselor can begin to explore underlying issues and develop a treatment plan.

While gathering information is also important, it should not take priority over immediate risk assessment. Long-term treatment planning and providing general support are valuable components of therapeutic work, but they can only be effectively addressed once the client's safety is assured. Without addressing the risk of harm first, all subsequent steps may be rendered ineffective or irrelevant. Thus, the urgent nature of assessing risk and securing immediate safety is why this is the appropriate choice.