Marriage and Family TherapistPhysical Danger

In theory, there should be virtually no physical danger whatsoever involved in this profession. Picture a quiet, soothing office atmosphere with mahogany furniture, plenty of natural lighting, and a miniature Zen garden and fountain on top of your desk. While you lean back in your plush leather armchair, you listen to people speak to you, and you speak back to them. Sounds pretty safe, doesn’t it?

For the most part, it is. But many marriage and family therapists work in substance abuse centers where they may encounter patients who can’t always control themselves physically. It may involve treating those who are mentally unwell and unpredictable, and who may lash out without the least provocation. It also may involve treating children, some of whom come to their therapy session with Nerf gun fully loaded (shockingly, the Brady Act doesn’t apply to these dangerous weapons, and a child can buy one in a Toys ‘R Us without having to undergo a background check).