Marriage and Family Therapist how-to
How to Handle a Crisis in Session
Safety comes first.
Quick answer
Safety comes first. In short: assess; stay; develop, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Assess risk directly.
Stay calm.
Develop a safety plan.
Involve supports.
Follow duty-to-warn rules.
Document and consult.
Safety reminders for marriage and family therapists
- Assess for violence and suicide risk
- Follow duty-to-warn laws
- Protect confidentiality
- Seek consultation and self-care
Key terms
Family systems · Genogram · Triangulation · Enmeshment · Differentiation · Reframing: see the full marriage and family therapist glossary.