A therapist explains how to respond when a client says they'll limit risky behavior to weekends. The approach: skip the lecture, ask what safeguards they already have, and help them plan for safety while respecting their choices.
Well, what would you say to a client who says, I've got this under control, I'm fine to do it only on the weekends?
You know, I probably won't challenge it. I'll probably say, okay, I'm happy to hear that. Let's talk about what you have in place. And let's see if we can add anything else to keep you safe so you can continue to enjoy your lifestyle and your party. So that's what I generally do, because I don't need to lecture people about what their moral behavior should be and all this other stuff. So many of my gay men have already suffered so much in their lives from all kinds of things that the last thing I want to do is resemble that. So when they tell me, I think I'm good, I say, okay, well, tell me what makes you think that way.
Okay.
And are— can we— are you open to talking to me about maybe the things you have in place? And maybe the things you would be willing to consider adding to what you already have?
