Getting Kicked Out of the “Bubble”: Rupture and Repair in the Consultative Relationship

Abstract
An Early Head Start teacher and an infant and early childhood mental health consultant share the story of how their consultative relationship was shaped by a significant rupture and subsequent repair. From their individual perspectives, they reflect on how racial differences, past traumas, relational histories, and not maintaining the consultative stance contributed to the rupture. The authors highlight the power of honesty and vulnerability in professional relationships to heal relational ruptures and how that can deepen infant and early childhood consultation work.