Trauma-Informed Risk Communication for Self-Directed Violence: A Supervision Model for Counselor Education

  • Karen Roller 
    Palo Alto University Counseling Department, Palo Alto University, United States
    United States
  • Rachel Jacoby
    Palo Alto University Counseling Department, Palo Alto University, United States
    United States
  • Shreya Vaishnav
    Palo Alto University Counseling Department, Palo Alto University, United States
    United States
  • La Toya Smith
    Palo Alto University Counseling Department, Palo Alto University, United States
    United States
  • Tasmeer Ali
    Palo Alto University Counseling Department, Palo Alto University, United States
    United States

Abstract

This teaching practice brief presents a counselor education supervision model to support counselors-in-training serving clients experiencing self-directed violence, such as non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation. The current model emerged from previously published grounded theory research on counselor-in-training needs for intervening on self-directed violence resulting in two key themes: (1) two forms of supervisory support are needed: logistical and emotional, and (2) supervisors are reported to exhibit a concerning spectrum of skill with both, impacting trainees. This brief is intended to translate these findings into practical supervision recommendations. Supervisors who intentionally provide attuned logistical and emotional support scaffold the clinical competencies necessary for counselors-in-training to both seek timely help for intervening in self-directed violence and protect themselves from compassion fatigue. Therefore, trauma-informed risk communication, informed by relevant research, is described. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Keywords
  • Counselor education
  • risk communication
  • self-directed violence
  • supervision model
  • trauma-informed
Lisensing Information
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite
Roller, K., Jacoby, R., Vaishnav, S., Toya Smith, L., & Ali, T. (2026). Trauma-Informed Risk Communication for Self-Directed Violence: A Supervision Model for Counselor Education. COUNS-EDU: The International Journal of Counseling and Education, 11(1), 44–57. https://doi.org/10.23916/00202601152110
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