When patients attack: The experience of inpatient mental health counselors after a physical attack from a patient

Mental health professionals who work at inpatient facilities are at an increased risk of physical attacks from patients (Beech & Leather, 2006; Campbell et al., 2011; GAO, 2016; Gillespie et al., 2010). Research on physical attacks in the human services field has focused on other mental health professionals, such as psychiatric nurses and social workers; research looking specifically at mental health counselors is lacking. The purpose of this qualitative study, through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, was to understand the lived experiences of mental health counselors after a physical attack from a patient. The research interviewed four mental health counselors who experienced a physical attack from one of their patients. Through analysis of the interviews, five main themes emerged: negative patient factors, strong facility reaction, positivity from experience, psychological damage, and assigning blame. Implications for policy and practice were considered and suggestions and recommendations for future research were provided.