About this resource
Rebuilding trust takes time and consistent action. This reflection explores what happened, its impact, what each person needs, actions that build trust, signs of progress and what to do when setbacks happen.
Purpose
To support a structured, honest process of rebuilding trust.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Counsellors and therapists. Also relevant for psychologists, social workers.
Client or participant group: Adults in individual or couples counselling working on trust.
Practice setting: Couples or individual counselling.
Suggested uses
- Couples counselling
- Family relationships
- Friendships
- After a breach of trust
Instructions for practitioners
- Screen for family violence before couples work; this tool is not for abusive relationships.
- Allow each person to be heard.
- Focus on specific, observable actions.
- Pace the work.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Write what you need.
- Write actions that would build trust.
- Notice signs of progress.
Accessibility considerations
Can be completed verbally.
Scope and limitations
A reflective tool for use within counselling. It is not suitable where there is family violence or coercive control.
Research basis
Couple therapy improves relationship satisfaction and communication compared with no treatment. Understanding, naming and choosing strategies for emotions are central to emotion regulation; putting feelings into words and finer emotion distinctions are linked to better regulation.
- Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion Regulation: Current Status and Future Prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840x.2014.940781
- Kashdan, T. B., Barrett, L. F., & McKnight, P. E. (2015). Unpacking Emotion Differentiation: Transforming Unpleasant Experience by Perceiving Distinctions in Negativity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24(1), 10–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721414550708
- Kircanski, K., Lieberman, M. D., & Craske, M. G. (2012). Feelings Into Words: Contributions of Language to Exposure Therapy. Psychological Science, 23(10), 1086–1091. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612443830
- Roddy, M. K., Walsh, L. M., Rothman, K., Hatch, S. G., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Meta-analysis of couple therapy: Effects across outcomes, designs, timeframes, and other moderators. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(7), 583–596. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000514
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
