Recognising the Early Signs of Therapeutic Drift

In the field of psychology and counselling, maintaining focus on the client’s goals and evidence-based interventions is essential for achieving meaningful therapeutic outcomes. However, even the most experienced practitioners can sometimes find themselves unintentionally straying from these principles — a phenomenon known as therapeutic drift. Recognising the early signs of this shift is key to preventing it from undermining treatment effectiveness and professional integrity.

What is Therapeutic Drift?

Therapeutic drift occurs when a therapist deviates from established treatment protocols, often gradually and without conscious awareness. It may involve spending excessive time building rapport at the expense of structured intervention, allowing sessions to become overly conversational, or adapting therapy so much that it no longer aligns with the intended framework. While flexibility and empathy are vital, straying too far from evidence-based practice can dilute the therapeutic process and compromise results.

Early Warning Signs to Watch For

Therapeutic drift rarely happens overnight — it’s usually the result of subtle shifts in practice habits, client dynamics, or therapist mindset. Some common indicators include:

• Session structure becomes inconsistent – sessions lose direction or feel repetitive, with less emphasis on agreed treatment goals.

• Reduced use of measurable outcomes – progress tracking or feedback mechanisms are neglected, making it harder to assess change.

• Increased personal disclosure – the therapist shares more about their own experiences than is therapeutically relevant.

• Avoidance of difficult topics – the therapist may steer away from challenging discussions, inadvertently reinforcing avoidance behaviours.

• Over-reliance on intuition – interventions are guided more by instinct than by established therapeutic frameworks or research evidence.

Why Therapeutic Drift Happens

There are several reasons why therapeutic drift might occur – burnout, emotional fatigue, or a strong desire to please clients can lead to over-accommodation. Therapists may also drift when they feel uncertain about how to handle resistance or when they lack supervision and peer feedback. On top of this, long-term therapeutic relationships can subtly shift the balance between professional boundaries and emotional involvement, creating conditions where drift can take root.

Preventing and Addressing Drift

Preventing therapeutic drift begins with self-awareness and ongoing professional reflection. Regular supervision, continued education, and adherence to structured treatment plans can help therapists maintain focus. Reflective practice journals, peer discussions, and client feedback tools are also valuable for recognising when sessions start veering off course.

When drift is identified, it’s important not to view it as failure but as an opportunity to recalibrate. Re-establishing clear goals, revisiting the evidence base for interventions, and engaging in supervision can quickly restore therapeutic alignment.

Staying Grounded in Purpose

Therapy is most effective when it balances empathy with structure, flexibility with fidelity. Recognising the early signs of therapeutic drift allows practitioners to remain grounded in their purpose — providing consistent, evidence-informed care that supports genuine growth and positive outcomes for clients.