"Of course, the first priority is safety for the client and for myself. I would calmly ask the client to calm down. I would explain that I want to provide assistance, but that I also have to make sure we are all safe. It's really important for patients to understand that we are there to help, but we also have to firm and professional so that boundary lines are drawn."

One of the things that people who deal with direct care, such as counselors, are faced with is the potential for a client to become angry or aggressive. It is important to understand what cues to look for that may be a precursor to aggression and know how to approach the situation before it gets out of hand. Being able to be vigilant as far as providing a safe environment for yourself and your clients and having an idea of how you will handle a possibly uncertain situation is very important. If you have ever had to deal with an angry or aggressive client, share that experience and how you dealt with it with the interviewer.

"I had an experience with a client who became aggressive during a counseling session before. It can be a frightening situation, but the important thing is to remember to stay as calm as possible. Most aggression comes from fear and anxiety. If we can learn to identify signs that a patient's anxiety is increasing, we can then engage efforts to decrease those feelings and try to prevent the patient from escalating to an aggressive state."