Self-defense skills may be learned in a class. The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault recommends a class has the following characteristics: "A good course covers critical thinking about defense strategies, assertiveness, powerful communication skills, and easy to remember physical techniques. The instructor respects and responds to your fears and concerns. Instruction is based on the belief that we can act competently, decisively, and take action for our own protection. Essentially, a good course is based on intelligence and not muscle. It offers tools for enabling a person to connect with their own strength and power."

Another choice in self-defense is a spray, such as pepper spray or Mace. Pepper spray, targeted to the assailant's eyes, will lessen vision. Check the law--these agents may be illegal or may require training/licensing in the therapist's area.

How much force is one allowed to use to stop an attack? Generally, in the criminal law, one can use the same force one is being attacked with. One cannot use deadly force if the assailant is not using deadly force. The therapist need not wait for the actual attack to occur to defend but the threat of attack must be immediate. The danger here is the therapist does not want to be seen as the aggressor, thus with no right to self defense. Words are not generally enough to make self defense possible. The attacker must do something more than talk. If the attacker threatens and picks up a stone, which would probably be enough to initiate self defense. A minority of jurisdictions require the defender to retreat if this can be done safely; retreat is not required if the defender is being raped.

If a therapist sees another therapist being attacked, the first therapist can defend the second if the first has a reasonable belief the second is in need of assistance.

If the attacker withdraws, the right of self-defense ends. Once the attacker has been stopped, the therapist must end self defense efforts; retaliation is not included in the right to self defense.

Additionally, there are civil concerns. (A civil matter is one where individual parties sue each other, as opposed to the state prosecuting someone which is a criminal matter.) The tort of assault and battery may be involved. If the attacker causes harmful or offensive contact against the therapist's person, the attacker has committed a battery. If the attacker puts the therapist in fear of an imminent battery, an assault has been committed. These often occur together--threat and contact resulting in assault and battery. The therapist can sue the attacker in these circumstances. If the therapist, in defending, injures the attacker and is then sued, the therapist can assert self defense as a justification. If a third party helps the defending therapist, the third party is protected from suit if the therapist actually had a right to self defense. If the third party got in on the wrong side of the fight and the therapist actually did not have the right to self defense, the third party can be sued (although there is a trend in the courts to protect the third party if the mistake in assisting was reasonable.)

If a thief steals something and runs, the therapist may give chase and use minimal force to recover the property. In this circumstance, the therapist cannot cause serious injury. If the thief turns around and attacks, the rules of self defense apply.

That said, some of the best things a solo therapist can do is find the safest area to work in as possible. Avoid being on the premises into the late evening or taking new clients in the evening. Have a good alarm system with a one touch police button. Be aware of the surroundings at all times. Rehearse plans for all possible scenarios of danger.