Abstract

Patient safety remains a critical priority in global healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria, where communication gaps, workforce stress, and limited psychosocial integration continue to undermine quality care. This paper examines the advocacy roles of counsellor educators in improving patient safety through psychological approaches. The study adopts a systematic literature review methodology, drawing on recent scholarly works (2021–2026) sourced from Scopus-indexed databases, Google Scholar, PubMed, and African journals. Findings reveal that counsellor educators play five key advocacy roles: promoting therapeutic communication, strengthening ethical practice, advancing psychological support systems, influencing policy and curriculum integration, and addressing healthcare workers’ mental health and resilience. These roles are essential in reducing medical errors linked to cognitive overload, burnout, and poor interpersonal relationships within clinical environments. Psychological approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Theory, humanistic care, and psychological safety frameworks were found to significantly enhance decisionmaking, empathy, teamwork, and patient-centered care. In the Nigerian context, cultural beliefs, stigma surrounding mental health, and inadequate integration of counselling services remain major barriers to effective patient safety practices. However, counsellor educators are strategically positioned to bridge these gaps through advocacy, training, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that integrating counselling principles into healthcare systems can substantially improve patient outcomes, reduce preventable errors, and strengthen healthcare delivery. It recommends the institutionalization of counselling services in healthcare facilities, curriculum reforms in medical and nursing education, continuous professional development for healthcare workers, and supportive government policies. Overall, the paper highlights counselling advocacy as a vital psychological strategy for advancing patient safety a