From Rupture to Repair: The Clinician Therapeutic Apology Across Time – Present Practice, Past Harms

The Standard Therapeutic Apology (TA) is a structured intervention from Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), most often thought of as a caregiver-to-child intervention. Beyond this version of the intervention are several other forms that any clinician can deliver – either directly, or as a surrogate voice for a parent/caregiver, institution, or system.

This session offers a brief overview of these forms, including:

• Direct relational repair: addressing ruptures within the therapeutic relationship itself
• On behalf of the organization/system: naming institutional realities that contribute to hurt and harm
• On behalf of the field of mental health: naming historical hurts and harms within the field itself
• Surrogate Universal Apology: offered on behalf of a primary attachment figure who cannot deliver it themselves

Therapeutic Potential:

These forms of therapeutic apologies can lead to positive outcomes via a number of pathways including contextualizing the roots of suffering more accurately. Naming the role of multiple systems moves the story beyond personal defectiveness – and beyond blaming the family – toward something more nuanced, complex, and true. This can interrupt shame-based self-narratives in all involved and increase help-seeking behavior. They can also offer language for experiences that were not considered or acknowledged. Many people have never heard the harm they experienced named directly, by anyone, in any form.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Dr. Adele Lafrance is a clinical psychologist, research scientist, author, and co-developer of emotion-focused treatment modalities, including Emotion-Focused Family Therapy.

A frequent keynote speaker at professional conferences, Adele has published extensively in the field of emotion and health, including a clinical manual on EFFT published by the American Psychological Association. Adele also provides continuing education trainings and workshops designed for mental health professionals and educators.