Intervention studies on forgiveness

The purpose of this journal review is to analyze through meta-analysis the intervention techniques of forgiveness. There are existing factors that are used in forgiveness as an intervention tool in counseling is in the early stages of development and fewer studies and research has been conducted to support the effectiveness of meta-analysis. More studies have been completed that showed based on the efficacies of forgiveness interventions within the counseling sessions were researched. The study results indicated the results of the research were grouped into three categories: decision-based, process-based groups and process- based individual interventions. When counselors measure forgiveness intervention techniques and other emotional health concerns, the results of the studies revealed that counselors using the decision based interventions found no significant effectiveness on forgiveness.

When using the process-based intervention there were increased rises in the effectiveness of counselors using forgiveness as an intervention tool. Counselors that used these intervention methods saw a greater increase in the rates of effectiveness when using forgiveness in a clinical or other treatment sessions. Baskin & Enright (2004) indicated through nine empirical studies that the potential effectiveness of forgiveness interventions was impacted by forgiveness counseling. A common theme among the studies of forgiveness suggested that forgiveness intervention or forgiveness counseling deeply impacted the commonalities of forgiveness intervention. Baskin & Enright (2004) defines forgiveness a being a volunteer or willful act of the forgiver.

As a part of the process the forgiver replaces negative emotions (depression, anger, frustration and resentment) with positive emotions that will benefit the offender. Through the studies the results revealed varied levels of deep-rooted hurt and offense that stems from the client’s unwanted circumstances such as incest, abandonment, and deprivation. This article was very informative and allowed the reader to follow and examine the case presented. The cases showed the detail size and characteristics of the sample pool (n=330). The methodology indicated that the test results were varied in the forgiveness intervention hypotheses. Baskin & Enright indicated that the three case studies varied in concluding results.

Reflection
Upon reflection on the concept of “forgiveness,” the spiritual teachings that I have learned through life come to mind. The scriptures of the Holy Bible tell of the importance of a believer being able to use forgiveness and mercy toward others. In Matthew 6:12 a section of the Lord’s Prayer reads “forgive us as we forgive our debtors”. Therefore as a believer, and Christian, this writer was interested in discovering how the participants in the research studies who were not displays as Christians were not responsive to opportunities presented in the study to forgive themselves and others. It was impressive to see the overwhelmingly positive results, all of which motivated interest in the rationale. For example, the research sparked a high level interest and gave counselors an appetite for further research that would compare the results of forgiveness intervention among professing Christians, atheists and agnostics. In Luke 23:43, Jesus asked the Father for forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:23-24), indicates that as the believer brought forth an offering to the Church and remembered that a fellow believer had something against him, he was commanded by God to leave the offering, then therefore go to be reconciled with his brethren, then return to the Church to present the offering. The primary purpose of the scripture is to remind us that even though the offender was at fault the offended had to take initiative. Biblical teaching came to mind because much of the concepts of the Bible associates the offended taking initiative towards forgiveness highlighted in the studies.

Future research will demonstrate the potential impact of the counselors’ religious backgrounds of intervention and the counselor’s potential impact on forgiveness intervention outcomes would be interesting. In addition, how likely is it that forgiveness is on-going? Matthew 18:21-22 tells us when Peter asked Jesus the number of times should he forgive his brother, Jesus said seventy times. Is this the tendency of non-believers? Forgiveness is not new concept, but Biblical based. Additional research is needed on who forgives, who promotes forgiveness, and the frequency in which forgiveness occurs in comparison to Biblical models of forgiveness.

Application
In order for a person Christian or not to move forward in life learning how to forgive is important. Although forgiveness is not always easy, it is necessary for good spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Divorce is often harder to accept in Christian communities. In this writer’s culture, divorce is frowned upon. Our religious belief is that marriage is binding until separated by death. Yet, with high divorce rates, children of divorced parents often think they are the cause are left with feelings of depression, abandonment, anger resentment and spiritual conflict over the interpretation of God’s will for marriage and families. When counselors counsel a client who has problems forgiving his/her parents for divorcing, this writer must offer to deal with helping the counselee handle forgiveness by going through different phases of counseling.

This Phase emphasizes the importance of the counselor listening to the present story and winning the counselee’s trust. The next potential step would be to suggest that the counselee write a letter expressing his or her feelings to their parents on the reason they are divorcing. The client may not always mail the letter. However, it can be very therapeutic for the individual to put his or her thoughts on paper. In addition, sometimes a non-face-to-face meeting is more beneficial than a face-to-face meeting that may prove to be confrontational (Baskin & Enrich, 2004).

In essence, in working with a client experiencing issues of forgiveness resulting from negative perceptions of a failed marriage, this writer would put into action the three basic intervention models developed by Baskin & Enright (2004). The primary goals would be uncovering, decision, work, and deepening. Specifically, steps would include: assist the counselee effectively analyze the perceived injustice; explore the options in dealing with the problem; attempting to view the offense from the counselee’s perspective; and help find proper perspective, with an understanding that the counselee is imperfect and in need of forgiveness as well (Baskin & Enright, 2004).

References
Baskin, T. W., & Enright, R. D. (2004). Intervention studies on forgiveness: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling, 82(1), 79- 90.