Therapeutic Stages of Forgiveness and Self-Forgiveness

Abstract

This theoretical reflection of the authors' postulates four therapeutic stages of the forgiveness and self-forgiveness process. These discreet stages of therapy are titled: recognition, responsibility, expression, and recreating. The authors' purpose in presenting this reflection is to provide therapists descriptive stages that they can utilize to develop effective interventions for each of the stages of forgiveness or self-forgiveness a caregiver is experiencing. The authors' practice experience and a review of the literature about forgiveness and self-forgiveness led to the development of the four therapeutic stages of forgiveness and self-forgiveness presented. A case example is provided that chronicles the caregiver's experience while working through each of the four therapeutic stages. A discussion of implications for practice and further research questions is presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Therapeutic stages
• forgiveness
• self-forgiveness
• caregivers
• grief
• metaphors in therapy

Notes

The authors wish to thank Melanie Albert for her work on an earlier version of this manuscript.