SALT LAKE CITY — Apologies are important for healthy relationships, but not all apologies are created equal. Psychologist Dr. Todd Corelli said that certain words can actually undermine the sincerity of an apology—especially in parent-child relationships.
Why Apologies Matter
Dr. Corelli emphasized that making repair is key to emotional closeness.
“If you’re not apologizing to the people that you love, you’re not as close to them as you think you are,” he said.
Apologies help build connection and intimacy, and modeling them well can have lasting effects on children.
The Anatomy of a Healthy Apology
According to Dr. Corelli, a healthy apology has three parts: “You own it. ‘I’m sorry that I spoke so harshly to you. I shouldn’t have done that.’ Number two, you leave out the word ‘but.’ No excuses. And number three, you just say what [you’re] going to do better next time.”…