Which statement best describes the safety planning approach when risk is present?

Which statement best describes the safety planning approach when risk is present?

• A. Do not conduct couple's therapy; assess risk and implement safety planning; provide individual sessions; refer to appropriate resources as needed
• B. Continue with couples therapy regardless of risk
• C. Wait for the risk to escalate before acting
• D. Document risk but take no immediate safety steps

Answer: (A)

When risk is present, the priority is safety. The best approach is to pause or avoid proceeding with couples therapy and focus on assessing the risk, implementing a concrete safety plan, providing individual sessions, and referring to appropriate resources as needed. This helps protect each person, offers targeted support, and connects them with the help they may require (hotlines, shelters, legal resources, etc.). Continuing with couples therapy despite known risk can increase danger, waiting for risk to escalate misses a critical opportunity to intervene early, and merely documenting risk without taking immediate safety steps leaves people unprotected.

When risk is present, the priority is safety. The best approach is to pause or avoid proceeding with couples therapy and focus on assessing the risk, implementing a concrete safety plan, providing individual sessions, and referring to appropriate resources as needed. This helps protect each person, offers targeted support, and connects them with the help they may require (hotlines, shelters, legal resources, etc.). Continuing with couples therapy despite known risk can increase danger, waiting for risk to escalate misses a critical opportunity to intervene early, and merely documenting risk without taking immediate safety steps leaves people unprotected.