Eilis Mulvaney, a registered social worker with lived experience in the foster care system, brings a unique perspective to social work. With over a decade on the frontlines of social care and 25 years of firsthand experience of social work interventions, Mulvaney offers an innovative approach to risk assessment and safety planning. This guest chapter, written from the dual perspective of a lived experience expert and social worker, explores the complexities of ‘resistance’ during professional interventions. Mulvaney advocates for social care professionals to empower individuals in taking ownership of their change process. This can only be achieved by valuing and learning from the lived expertise of those receiving support. The principles of Change Intervention, central to Mulvaney’s work, emphasise that social work should not be ‘done to’ people but should foster collaboration, respect, and empowerment—key foundations of effective social care practice.