Counsellor escalated boy’s anger

A counsellor who asked a boy what the child wanted to use to stab his mother has been told to apologise to his family after breaching the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.

The boy, 8, who was seeing the counsellor to help with bullying and behaviour towards his brother, said he wanted to stab his mum — who was present, according to a Health and Disability Commissioner’s decision.

The counsellor asked him what he would used and made a suggestion about using some nearby scissors. The boy then went to grab the scissors, but the counsellor got to them first and restrained the boy by pushing him back in his chair.

The counsellor, who did not have formal qualifications but had been working for a number of years, then tried to empathise with the boy.

The counsellor’s husband arrived and took over restraining the irate boy and police were called.

In his decision, Mental Health Commissioner Kevin Allan said the counsellor’s comments were inappropriate and escalated the situation.

Allan recommended the counsellor, who has now left the profession, provide a written apology to the boy and his mother and have training on best practice techniques in deescalation and developing empathy if she were to return to practice.

Allan has also raised his concerns with the Ministry of Health about the lack of protections that people may face when dealing with an unregulated counsellor.