Forgiveness therapy to treat embitterment: A review of relevant research

Abstract

When people experience interpersonal hurts, offenses, or victimization, negative consequences can result including embitterment, rumination about the offense, and even symptoms of depression and anxiety. One way of overcoming these negative consequences is to work toward forgiving the offending party. Recently, researchers and clinicians have become more interested in both embitterment and forgiveness within the therapeutic context. Understanding ways to overcome embitterment through psychotherapeutic intervention would be helpful for those practitioners encountering individuals struggling with this difficult emotional complex. Research on the effectiveness of forgiveness in therapeutic settings provides a starting point for this exploration. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Vienna.