Forgiveness as a Therapeutic Construct: Theoretical and Clinical Evidence

Abstract

Despite the evidence of having physical and mental health benefits of practicing forgiveness, resistance among therapists is evident, probably due to the lack of a coherent theoretical grounding in the understanding of forgiveness. Hence, to encourage the practice of forgiveness in clinical settings, more rigorous studies should be planned along with re-conceptualization of existing models of forgiveness by taking account of variables such as personality and other contextual factors. The purpose of this article is to explore the concept of forgiveness as a therapeutic construct and to discuss the benefits and limitations of practicing forgiveness in therapeutic settings.

Keywords

• emotional coping
• forgiveness
• therapy