Session Six: Forgiveness

Abstract

Session Six teaches clients that forgiveness is a process for change rather than an event. This session explains what forgiveness is and what it is not. The central positive psychotherapy (PPT) practices covered in this session are writing a Forgiveness Letter and REACH, which is an approach to forgiveness, as follows: Step One: R = Recall an event; Step Two: E = Empathize from the perpetrator’s point of view; Step Three: A = Altruistic gift of forgiveness; Step Four: C = Commit yourself to forgive publicly; and Step Five: H = Hold onto forgiveness. The chapter provides a list of readings, videos, and websites that relate to forgiveness and offers two worksheets to practice the concepts learned in the chapter. The chapter also includes a real-life case study about forgiveness.