Rupture & Repairbeginner
Ten Minutes Late
Own your lateness and explore what it stirred up for the client.
The situation
I am the therapist. I arrived ten minutes late for the second time this month and my client is angry and sarcastic. I need to take responsibility plainly, without over-apologizing, and then get curious about what my lateness stirred up for them.
Who you will be talking to: Angry Client
They'll test whether you get defensive. Explaining yourself early reads as self-protection rather than accountability.
What tends to work
- Acknowledge the impact before explaining yourself
- Own your part without collapsing into over-apology
- Get curious: "What was it like when I…?"
One way to open: “I think something happened between us, and I'd like to understand it before we go anywhere else.”
Say it out loud, then see what you said
Reading about a hard conversation is not the same as having it. You talk to an AI counterpart by voice, like a phone call, and afterwards get a scorecard that quotes your own words: what helped, and what to try next time.
More mental health scenarios
Dialoque is a practice tool for communication skills. It is not medical, clinical or legal advice. Read the disclaimer.