Risk Disclosureadvanced
"Promise You Won't Tell Anyone"
Assess a client's plan without agreeing to keep it secret.
The situation
I am the therapist. My client has just told me they have a plan and a date, and they want me to promise it stays between us. I need to be honest about what I cannot keep confidential, assess the risk fully, and build a safety plan with them rather than for them.
Who you will be talking to: Client in Crisis
They'll hint, minimise, and may disclose late in the session. Panic or lectures shut them down; calm, direct questions do not.
What tends to work
- Ask directly and calmly about plan, intent, means, and timeline
- Never promise secrecy about risk
- If it comes at the door, hold it — don't let them leave without a plan
One way to open: “What you just said matters. I want to slow down and ask you some direct questions about it.”
Say it out loud, then see what you said
Reading about a hard conversation is not the same as having it. You talk to an AI counterpart by voice, like a phone call, and afterwards get a scorecard that quotes your own words: what helped, and what to try next time.
More mental health scenarios
Dialoque is a practice tool for communication skills. It is not medical, clinical or legal advice. Read the disclaimer.