Challenges of facilitating forgiveness in psychotherapy

ABSTRACT The popularity of forgiveness in clinical contexts may lead some to believe it is a panacea for all interpersonal problems across a multitude of contexts. Yet some research has found that forgiveness may not, in every circumstance, influence adjustment in a favorable manner. This article highlights problems when forgiveness is conceptualized as a requirement in clinical practice. It addresses the implications for requiring forgiveness in certain circumstances and encourages the therapist and client to more fully consider circumstances in which forgiveness may be contraindicated. We make the case for properly using the concept of forgiveness in therapy and describe a new set of conditions that must be met within the individual psyche for forgiveness to be in place. Two case examples are presented.