Rupture and de-escalation: the use of deliberative practices in interdisciplinary collaboration

This paper introduces deliberate practice (DP) as a method for targeted training of de-escalation microskills in response to ruptures in the professional–client relationship. Rupture — a breakdown in the working alliance — is a universal phenomenon across helping professions, yet systematic training of responses to it is absent in the Czech context. The text outlines the principles of DP, critically evaluates existing evidence, and operationalizes the concept of rupture into six trainable micro-skills. Drawing on the experience of a workshop conducted at the Josefské Sympozium 2026 with an interdisciplinary group of mediators, lawyers, social workers, judges, and therapists, it identifies benefits, prerequisites, and challenges for the application of DP in Czech practice. Findings are presented as hypotheses for further work, not as proven conclusionse.

Keywords: deliberate practice; rupture; de-escalation; interdisciplinary collaboration; micro-skills;
family disputes