Empty vs. Effective Apologies – Adult & School Editions

Empty vs. Effective Apologies – Adult & School Editions

Teach the difference between a quick “sorry” and a genuine, meaningful apology with this ready-to-use worksheet.

This download includes two versions:

• Adult Edition – Uses a substance use scenario as the example.
• School Edition – Uses a relatable lunchroom example to make the concept clear for students.

Both versions walk participants through the three key steps to an effective apology:

1. Acknowledge what happened.
2. Show empathy for how it affected the other person.
3. Share your plan to do better in the future.

Also included is a “Write Your Own Apology” worksheet, where participants create their own apology and share it aloud. This allows for group feedback and discussion so they can practice delivering an apology that feels genuine and respectful.

Perfect for:

• Counseling sessions
• Substance use treatment groups
• Social-emotional learning (SEL) activities
• Conflict resolution lessons in schools

Format: PDF – ready to print.