The article focuses on the occupational hazards faced by psychotherapists, discussing both sudden critical situations and the long-term effects associated with the profession. This topic has been little explored in professional literature, especially in Polish. The aim of the article is to discuss the most common risks that therapists may encounter, such as client suicide, therapist suicide, stalking, client violence, sexual relations with clients, and chronic occupational stress. The article begins by discussing situations that directly affect the therapist's professional and personal life. For example, client suicide evokes strong emotions such as shame, guilt, and regret, and stalking can lead to physical and emotional threats. Client violence is a real occupational hazard and may require preventive measures. A very difficult topic that requires attention is the potential risk of engaging in a sexual relationship with a current client. In the rest of the article, the author focuses on the long-term effects of therapeutic work, referred to as the “Big Four”: burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious traumatization. Each of these phenomena is characterized by specific symptoms, affecting the therapist's functioning both at work and outside of it. In addition, the problem of professional loneliness, which may result from the nature of therapeutic work, is emphasized. There is asymmetry in the therapeutic relationship, in which the client's needs take precedence, which can lead to feelings of isolation. The article points to the need for further research and discussion on the issues presented.