"Therapy can feel warm, supportive, and connected… and still not create meaningful change. As clinicians, we are often trained to validate, support, build rapport, and create emotional safety. Those things matter so deeply. But sometimes, without meaning to, we can create sessions where clients feel comfortable, understood, and agreeable, while still staying stuck in the same patterns outside of the therapy room. “Good Intentions… Bad Therapy: The Hidden Skill We’re Not Teaching Our Clients” takes a practical and honest look at how well-intentioned therapy can unintentionally limit progress when we assume clients already know how to participate in therapy. Many clients do not automatically know how to reflect, tolerate discomfort, try something new, stay engaged when things get hard, or apply skills in real life. These are not just signs of “motivation” or “buy-in”, they are skills that often need to be intentionally taught, shaped, practiced, and reinforced. This interactive workshop will invite participants to look at common therapy moments that feel familiar: the client who nods and agrees but does not follow through, the client who shuts down when challenged, the client who wants support but resists movement, or the session that feels productive but does not lead to change. Together, we will explore what may be happening underneath those moments and how clinicians can respond in ways that maintain compassion while still moving treatment forward. Participants will engage in realistic clinical examples, “fix this session” moments, and practical discussion about how to balance validation with momentum. The goal is not to shame supportive therapy, because sometimes clients really do need space to vent, feel heard, and have a very human moment; the goal is to strengthen supportive approaches by adding intentional strategies that help clients become more active participants in their own growth. Attendees will leave with concrete tools for increasing engagement, reducing passive participation, building follow-through, and helping clients move from insight to action. This session is designed for clinicians who care deeply about their clients and want their sessions to be not only supportive, but truly effective beyond the therapy room. Come ready to participate, think differently, and have some fun while we turn familiar therapy moments into opportunities for meaningful change."