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An Analysis of a Sample of the General Population's Understanding of Forgiveness: Implications for Mental Health Counselors

Suzanne Freedman
Wen-Chuan Chang
All your life you’re told forgiveness is for you. But we’re never told why it’s for you. It means you’re working on owning your life.
Shani Tran
Therapist and Founder, The Shani Project
Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and every one of our hearts. The process is simple, but it is not easy.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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An Analysis of a Sample of the General Population's Understanding of Forgiveness: Implications for Mental Health Counselors

Suzanne Freedman
Wen-Chuan Chang
NO. of participants
Date
2010
Type of Evidence
Type of Paper
Primary Empirical Study
Empiricism
open access
Yes
No
sample size
49

Forgiveness can be a long and treacherous process, but it can eventually lead to a better understanding of ourselves, as well as a deeper understanding of the person who hurt us. These interviews have shown the impact of forgiveness in real life. They have reinforced the importance of including forgiveness, or at least parts of the forgiveness process, into our recovery from a deep hurt. By recognizing the opportunity to forgive, [we] may already have a greater understanding of [our] pain and may have the potential to offer forgiveness in a seemingly unhopeful situation.

Research
North America
Mental Health Professionals
Supporting Research
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