It is emphasized that staff working with people with an intellectual disability should "show dignity, respect, warmth, empathy and compassion in all interactions" (Positive Behavioural Support [PBS] Coalition & UK, 2015, p20). This is consistent with the principle that health professionals should be honest in communications with others (General Medical Council, 2013). While lies are a common occurrence in daily life, research also suggests that staff are not always entirely honest with those they support (Cantone et al., 2019). An important distinction has been made in health and support services, however, between "therapeutic lies" or "therapeutic untruths" (TU) and other forms of untruths. TU are used in the best interests of the person being supported, while non-therapeutic untruths, instead, are used for the benefit of the person providing support (see Cantone et al., 2019). TU can take a variety of forms, including omission, that is not providing the person with the full information, and going along with the person, rather than challenging their misperception, white lies, outright lies and tricks (Blum, 1994).