Published in
The Source, Oregon Mental Health Counselors Association membership publication.
Forgiveness in Clinical Practice
By Faith Winters
Many clients come to therapy because they have experienced considerable injustice from others. Forgiveness has been shown to be one of the direct routes to effectively reducing a client’s anger, anxiety and depression while increasing their sense of hope and self-esteem in a way that is constructive and healing. One popular definition of forgiveness is to “cease to feel angry or resentful towards” someone. However, there is no simple or easy way for clients to cease to feel such emotions. Forgiveness is not simply excusing or forgetting. It is deciding to give up the resentment that one is entitled to, and by giving this gift to the wrongdoer, it is the gift giver who becomes psychologically healed. Research has shown that people who forgive can increase self-esteem and hopefulness. Forgiveness not only heightens the potential for relational healing, but may also release the client from prolonged anger, rage, and stress that have been linked to physiological problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, hypertension, cancer, and other psychosomatic illness. Forgiveness may be a significantly beneficial intervention, if the clinician and the client have an accurate understanding of the concept.
