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Corrective Emotional Experience and Unconditional Positive Regard in Community Mental Health

Authors

Frederick Shack, LMSW1,4
Mardoche Sidor, MD1,2,3
Jose Cotto, LCSW1,5
Karen Dubin, PhD, LCSW2,4
Lesmore Willis Jr, MPA, MHA1
Gary Jenkins, MPA1

Affiliations

1Urban Pathways, New York, NY
2SWEET Institute, New York, NY
3Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Study and Research, New York, NY
4Columbia University, Department of Social Work, New York, NY
5New York University, Department of Social Work, New York, NY

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mardoche Sidor, MD, Urban Pathways, at msidor@urbanpathways.org

Abstract

Corrective emotional experiences (CEE) and unconditional positive regard (UPR) have been cornerstones of psychotherapy for decades, yet their application in frontline community-based mental health and housing services remains underdeveloped. This article examines how Urban Pathways is integrating these principles into their Four-Stage Engagement Model, particularly in the empathizing stage. We argue that CEE and UPR are not merely therapeutic ideals but practical tools for staff across all roles, from case managers to clinicians, to transform resident-staff interactions. By grounding these concepts in trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and modern neuroscience, we present working evidence that unconditional acceptance and emotionally reparative encounters can reduce stigma, build trust, and promote long-term recovery.

Keywords

Corrective Emotional Experience, Unconditional Positive Regard, Trauma-Informed Care, Engagement, Therapeutic Alliance, Community Mental Health, Supportive Housing

Introduction

The concept of corrective emotional experience (Alexander & French, 1946) describes a process in which an individual encounters new relational experiences that challenge and repair maladaptive patterns from the past. Similarly, unconditional positive regard (Rogers, 1957) posits that human growth depends on acceptance without judgment. Both principles have empirical support as mechanisms of change in psychotherapy (Norcross & Wampold, 2019; Elliott et al., 2018).

In community-based care, particularly in housing programs for people experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders, these principles are rarely systematized. Staff often default to behavioral management or compliance frameworks, inadvertently perpetuating cycles of mistrust. The Four-Stage Engagement Model reintroduces CEE and UPR as essential to engagement, making them accessible beyond traditional therapy rooms.

Theoretical Framework

CEE and UPR converge in their focus on relational repair:

By embedding these frameworks into frontline practice, the empathizing stage operationalizes what has historically been viewed as abstract ideals.

Application/Analysis

At Urban Pathways, staff are using reflective supervision to explore how to offer CEE and UPR in everyday interactions:

These practices are illustrating how CEE and UPR can be delivered outside traditional therapy by housing staff, security personnel, and administrators.

Implications

Conclusion

Corrective emotional experience and unconditional positive regard are not optional extras but core mechanisms of healing in community mental health. By embedding these principles into the Four-Stage Engagement Model, Urban Pathways is demonstrating that relational repair can and needs to occur across every staff-resident interaction.

References

This article is part of a collaboration between SWEET Institute and Urban Pathways

           

Read the full scientific version HERE

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