Mistakes and Missteps: The Hidden Lessons in Therapy. A conversation with Julie and Philippa.

Philippa Kelly and Julie McCann continue their discussion on “mistakes” in therapeutic work, exploring how errors feel, whether to acknowledge them, and how clients, families, and colleagues perceive them. They consider conflicts between professionals (e.g., schools and CAMHS) and how systemic shortages create “mistakes” beyond any one person, raising the challenge of advocating without giving families false hope. They share in-room examples—forgetting a washing-up bowl for messy play, bringing the wrong snack, or cancelling sessions after a car crash—and show how acknowledging, apologizing, and collaboratively problem-solving can become growth points, while some situations may not need highlighting. They discuss differences between newly qualified and experienced practitioners, shame in supervision, the value of rupture-and-repair, and rare procedural breaches like a confidential report emailed to the wrong address requiring ICO guidance. Send us Fan Mail  Instagram, Facebook, | Linktree