Example Techniques
Six Step Therapeutic Process to Facilitate Forgiveness of Self and Others
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Young Joon Hong George A. Jacinto
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Building Rapport- The counselor must listen to the client’s concerns and story. The counselor encourages c;ients tp explore their willingness and interest in addressing unresolved anger and unfinished business. Therapeutic Rapport is essential to a successful working relationship between counselor and client.
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Inward-Mirror Image- The client, after reflecting on the person they need to forgive, spontaneously draws three images related to the person they desire to forgive. These images are used as metaphors for working through the inward feelings toward the person they are working to forgive. The therapist asks the client to explore the association of the images in relation to the person they need to forgive.
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Experience Inventory- In this stage, the client is asked to reflect on the images and create an experience inventory of the person the client has chosen to forgive. This stage allows the client to use the images to review the relationship with the person, experience by experience from start to finish.
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Unsent Letter- The client uses the experience inventory to reflects on the incidents. The client is instructed to write a letter that will not be sent to the person they desire to forgive. In the letter, the client focuses on the reasons for his or her anger.
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Empty Chair-In this session the client sits in a chair facing an empty chair. The client is encouraged to imagine their wrongdoer across from them in the empty chair. The client then reads the previously written letter to that person.
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Letting Go and Moving Forward- After reviewing aspects of forgiveness and exploring the client’s feelings about forgiving, the client is then asked to use writing utensils to draw a metaphor of what it feels like to let go of anger and move on with life. If the client feels reconciliation is possible, a plan is developed to begin the process. Reconciliation is not always possible and is not necessary for forgiveness to take place. (Hong and Jacinto, 2011).
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Enright Forgiveness Process Model
PRELIMINARIES
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Who hurt you?
How deeply were you hurt?
On what specific incident will you focus?
What were the circumstances at the time? Was it morning or afternoon? Cloudy or sunny? What was said? How did you respond?
PHASE I—UNCOVERING YOUR ANGER
How have you avoided dealing with anger? Have you faced your anger?
Are you afraid to expose your shame or guilt? Has your anger affected your health?
Have you been obsessed about the injury or the offender? Do you compare your situation with that of the offender? Has the injury caused a permanent change in your life? Has the injury changed your worldview?
PHASE 2—DECIDING TO FORGIVE
Decide that what you have been doing has not worked. Be willing to begin the forgiveness process.
Decide to forgive.
PHASE 3—WORKING ON FORGIVENESS
Work toward understanding. Work toward compassion. Accept the pain.
Give the offender a gift.
PHASE 4—DISCOVERY AND RELEASE FROM EMOTIONAL PRISON
Discover the meaning of suffering. Discover your need for forgiveness. Discover that you are not alone. Discover the purpose of your life. Discover the freedom of forgiveness. (Enright, 2001)
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References
Enright R.D., (2001). Forgiveness Is a Choice. Washington, D.C.: APA Books. International Forgiveness Institute
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Hong, Y. J., & Jacinto, G. A. (2012). Six step therapeutic process to facilitate forgiveness of self and others. Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(3), 366-375. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1007/s10615-011-0377-7