Addressing Safety Concerns in Therapy: What to Do When Clients Disclose Risk
Safety concerns in therapy can be challenging for both clients and therapists. This article delves into effective strategies for addressing these issues, drawing on insights from experienced professionals in the field. Learn how to maintain a calm presence, prioritize safety, and connect clients with appropriate resources when they disclose potential risks during therapy sessions.
- Maintain Calm Presence and Create Safety Plan
- Prioritize Safety with Compassionate Clinical Review
- Listen Carefully and Connect with Professional Help
Maintain Calm Presence and Create Safety Plan
When a client discloses information that raises safety concerns, such as suicidal ideation or self-harming, I immediately shift into what I call "regulated presence"—using my own breath and grounding techniques to maintain nervous system stability so I can respond from a place of calm clarity rather than reactivity. I create safety in the moment by acknowledging their courage in sharing while simultaneously assessing immediate risk through direct, compassionate questioning about their current safety and support systems. One specific step I always take is to slow down the conversation and invite the client to notice their body's response to having shared this information—often there's relief in the nervous system that we can work with therapeutically even as we address practical safety planning. I then collaborate with the client on creating a concrete safety plan that includes both immediate resources and somatic regulation techniques they can use when overwhelmed, ensuring they leave the session with both external support contacts and internal nervous system tools for managing crisis moments.
Prioritize Safety with Compassionate Clinical Review
In the world of addiction treatment, safety isn't a side issue—it's the core of everything we do. When a client discloses something that raises a safety concern—whether it's suicidal ideation, self-harm, or risk of violence—we treat it as an immediate clinical priority, not just a legal or procedural one.
One specific step we always take at Ridgeline Recovery is to pause everything and bring the client into a face-to-face safety review with our clinical leadership—not as a disciplinary measure, but as an act of care. We step out of the normal treatment flow and shift into a more focused, therapeutic space. The message is clear: Your safety matters more than your progress notes today.
What's key here—and what I've learned over time—is that how you respond in those moments sets the tone for everything that follows. If you act panicked or overly procedural, you can shut someone down emotionally. But if you meet them with presence, compassion, and clear boundaries, you often open the door to deeper healing.
As a business owner, I've made it a point to train our entire team—not just therapists—in trauma-informed safety response. Whether it's a front desk staff member or a recovery support peer, everyone needs to know how to hold space for disclosures and route them appropriately. It's not about overstepping—it's about building a safety net that works in real life, not just on paper.
We also never make safety decisions in isolation. We staff the situation immediately, loop in our licensed clinicians, and when necessary, involve outside supports—family, emergency services, or crisis response teams—with the client's dignity at the forefront.
Because at the end of the day, our job is to help people feel safe enough to stay, open up, and do the work. That starts the moment they trust us with the hard truth.
Listen Carefully and Connect with Professional Help
When a client discloses information that raises safety concerns, my first priority is ensuring their immediate safety and well-being. I once had a client mention that they were experiencing severe stress and felt unsafe in their environment. My specific step was to immediately recommend they contact a mental health professional, while also offering resources for local support services. I followed up to ensure they had the support they needed and that the situation was being handled appropriately. I also documented the conversation and discussed it with my team to ensure we could offer any further assistance in a professional manner. The key is listening carefully, offering resources, and not attempting to handle sensitive situations alone—it's about connecting them with the right help while respecting their privacy and safety.
