Questions

1. CONTRACTING: You are working with a psychiatric patient, Pat, who is at risk of committing suicide. Your suicide prevention model suggests that you negotiate a "safety plan" with the client (e.g., Pat will stay with a friend overnight; you will contact the friend by phone to provide the friend with instruction about what to do in case of emergency, Pat will call the 24-hour crisis line if Pat starts to think about committing suicide; Pat will meet with you tomorrow to make further plans). Should this agreement be implicit, explicit and oral, or written? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of agreement? Do you or Pat require legal advice before finalizing this agreement? Why or why not? Is this agreement a legally binding agreement? What are the consequences if either one of you breaks the agreement? (3)

This contracting agreement should begin with oral then followed by a written agreement reflecting the oral agreement. An implicit agreement is a nonbinding but sincere commitment. "The explicit agreement is a contract in which the terms and requirements on all involved parties are clearly stated in writing, agreed upon, and signed by all participants. Explicit contracts are generally used in formal business agreements, financial transactions, sales of property and other high-value assets, and other situations where significant value or obligations apply. The explicit agreement is just the opposite of implied or implicit contracts" (Business, 2012, p. 1)