Taking Risks in Therapy: How Courage Can Deepen Your Practice

As a practising counsellor or psychotherapist, you will inevitably face moments when you wonder: Should I say this? Should I do this? These are the moments that call upon your willingness to take therapeutic risks. In a professional climate that often encourages caution and self-protection, it can feel counterintuitive to step beyond established conventions. Yet, as Mearns and Thorne (2013) remind us, without the courage to risk, our work risks becoming a “culpable under involvement”.

This post unpacks what it means to take risks in therapy, exploring why doing so can deepen connection, inspire growth, and build authentic relationships. By the end, you’ll have practical ideas for thoughtfully incorporating risk into your practice without compromising professionalism or client wellbeing.

Learning Outcomes

By engaging with this exploration, you will:

• Understand the five categories of therapeutic risk, as identified by Reeves (2015). This knowledge will empower you to assess risk thoughtfully, rather than reactively, enhancing your sense of control and confidence in your practice.
• Develop insight into the benefits and drawbacks of stepping outside traditional therapeutic boundaries.
• Learn examples of risk-taking interventions – from gentle challenge to authentic self-disclosure.
• Recognise the essential role of self-awareness and ethical grounding in any decision to take a therapeutic risk.
• Gain practical ideas for thoughtfully incorporating risk into your practice without compromising professionalism or client wellbeing.

The Categories of Risk: Understanding What You Are Navigating

One of the most useful frameworks for thinking about risk comes from Andrew Reeves (2015), who categorises it into five domains:

1. Situational Risk – safeguarding issues or the risk of harm to the client or therapist.
2. Relational Risk – dynamics such as attraction, transference, or financial entanglement.
3. Contextual Risk – ambiguity arising from unclear policies, procedures, or ethical guidance.
4. Professional Risk – threats to your integrity and professional standing, both in and out of sessions.
5. Personal Risk – vulnerability to burnout, vicarious trauma, or unhelpful over-disclosure.

Becoming familiar with these domains empowers you to assess risk thoughtfully, rather than reactively.

The Power and Potential Pitfalls of Risk in Your Practice

Risk-taking can also be understood as stretching the window of relational tolerance, where authenticity in you inspires authenticity in your client.

Benefits of Taking Risks:

• Deeper Therapeutic Relationship: Authenticity and congruence often invite clients to be more open and real.
• Inspiration of Client Growth: When you model vulnerability and courage, you normalise these qualities.
• Enhanced Professional Satisfaction: Stepping into the unknown can reinvigorate your work and prevent stagnation.

Potential Drawbacks:

• Client Discomfort: Some clients may find informality or challenge unsettling.
• Blurred Boundaries: Overfamiliarity or excessive disclosure can erode the therapeutic container, compromising the therapeutic relationship.
• Shift of Focus: The risk of the therapist’s needs overshadowing the client’s process.

Ultimately, risk must be carefully weighed against potential impact and always remain in service of the client’s best interests.

Practical Examples: What Risk Looks Like in the Room

Here are some ways therapists might intentionally “stretch the window of relational tolerance” (Armitage, 2024):

Using Humour and Informality

A well-timed moment of levity can defuse tension and humanise the therapist. Informality – in language or demeanour – can similarly reduce hierarchy.

Offering Gentle Challenge

For example:

“I feel aware that you want to be more positive, though I’m not sure we are achieving that yet. Do you know what I mean?”

This opens space for reflection while showing you are engaged and paying attention.

Self-Disclosure

Appropriate self-disclosure – sharing an experience or struggle that relates to the client – can build rapport. However, it must be intentional and measured.

Introducing New Ways of Working

Consider using creative methods (art materials, props) or adapting the setting (walk-and-talk sessions, sitting side by side) when traditional approaches stall.

Real-Life Examples of Risk-Taking in Dialogue

Consider these examples drawn from practice:

• Steve takes a risk:
  “It can be nerve-wracking coming to your first session. I am sitting here wondering how to make this easier for you, and I wish I knew, but I am glad you are here.”
  Instead of waiting passively, Steve acknowledges and names the discomfort.
• Sarah challenges gently:
  “I feel aware that you want to be more positive, though I am not sure we are currently doing a great job with that goal. Do you know what I mean?”
• Jeff explores dependency risk:
  “Something has been on my mind. I’m going to come right out and say it. Do you feel confident you’d continue to be OK if you were to stop seeing me?”
• Sahira adapts the environment:
  “Angela, you might not fancy this, but do you think it would be useful for you if we shifted our chairs so we were sitting side by side?”

These examples illustrate how risk can manifest in language and process.

Navigating Risk with Self-Awareness and Integrity

Perhaps the most crucial insight is that risk-taking without self-awareness is reckless. Armitage (2024) emphasises the need to:

• Know yourself deeply – your history, culture, and motivations.
• Reflect rigorously on why you are drawn to take a particular risk.
• Stay grounded in ethical practice, ensuring you remain aligned with your contract and professional standards.
• Prepare for rupture and repair if your intervention is not successful.

Remember, if an intervention doesn’t feel natural and authentic, don’t do it. Authenticity must be the anchor for any risk you take. This reassurance will guide you in making decisions that align with your professional values and the best interests of your clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Remarks

Therapeutic risk is not a reckless leap, but a considered and compassionate act in service of the client’s growth. The question is not whether you should take risks, but how you can do so with integrity, humility, and a sense of presence. Reflect on how you might bring more courage – and discernment – into your practice today.

References and Further Reading

Armitage, S-A. (2024). Taking ‘Risks’ in Therapy [lecture]. Counselling Tutor.

Mearns, D., Thorne, B., and McLeod, J. (2013). Person-Centred Counselling in Action (4th ed.). Sage.

Reeves, A. (2015). Working with Risk in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Sage.

Scott, R. (2014). The Power of Imperfection. SPCK.

Yalom, I. (1989). Love’s Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy. Penguin Books.

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