Forgiveness_Therapy

Summary A research study to find the effects of forgiveness therapy (FT) on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress for women after spousal emotional abuse was carried out. The study hypothesized that abused spouse who participate in forgiveness therapy (FT) will have less anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms and more self-esteem than those that participates in the alternative therapy (AT). Forgiveness therapy was compared to other alternative therapies like assertiveness, anger validation and interpersonal skill building for women who are emotionally abused and have been separated for two or more years. Twenty women who are between the ages of 32 and 54 and who are emotionally abused participated in the research. They were divided into groups of 10 pairs and matched as closely as possible in age, duration of abuse relationship and time since separation (Reed & Enright, 2006). All participants were made to sign the informed consent form before the pretest, posttest and follow- up. After pretesting, the pairs were divided into two groups consisting of the experimental participants and the control group. The experimental participants were subjected to one hour of weekly forgiveness therapy session based on the Enright Forgiveness Process Model while the other group participated in a weekly one-hour alternative therapy using participant-initiated discussion of current life concerns. Time of treatment for each pair was equal. The result from forgiveness therapy (FT) and the alternative therapy (AT) were compared on all dependent variables with matched pair t-test (Reed & Enright, 2006). Analysis of result shows that forgiveness therapy (FT) participants did better significantly compared to the participant in the alternative therapy session. The research shows that forgiveness therapy (FT) is more efficacious than alternative therapy (AT) in reducing anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms for emotionally abused women ( Reed & Enright, 2006). Interaction Spousal emotional abuse is the behavior that humiliates, intimidates or undermines victim’s self-worth or self-esteem. Its debilitating effects include anxiety, depression, low self- esteem, helplessness and posttraumatic stress (Reed & enright, 2006). Study have shown that emotionally abused women always have difficulties adjusting back to normalcy for a long time after the abuse because of resentment about the unfair treatment (Reed & Enright, 2006). The prevalence of spousal emotional abuse is about 35% for all women in the United States and the underpinning reason for the abuser is to gain or maintain control over the spouse (Reed & Enright, 2006). There are several methods used by the abuser and it includes humiliation, dominance, threats, isolation, intimidation, blame and denial. The extent of damage done to women who are emotionally abused, and the cry for adequate solution, are the reasons that attracted me to this unique problem in our society. Several alternatives therapies are available to alleviate the symptoms of emotional spousal abused women. None of these alternative therapies are empirically validated treatments until the inception of forgiveness therapy (Reed & Enright, 2006). Forgiveness therapy is empirically formulated to quantify level of wellness in emotionally abused spouse. Forgiveness therapy (FT) was found to be more efficacious therapy than other alternative therapies (AT) available (Reed & Enright, 2006). What forgiveness therapy (FT) does is to focus on reframing the partner in good-light by considering their inherent human worth rather than concentrating on shame, anger, and grieving alone ( Reed & Enright, 2006). Forgiveness therapy is by far the most efficient of all the therapies that are employed to alleviate the symptoms of emotional spousal abuse (Reed & Enright, 2006). Application With the advent of forgiveness therapy (FT), professionals now have new ammunition to tackle the symptoms of emotional spousal abused women. By using forgiveness therapy, it is possible to know if a client is improving or getting healed through counseling. The counseling session is based on the Enright Forgiveness Model. It consists of a weekly one-hour session where clients are asked open ended questions. The first phase of counseling consist of examining and uncovering past abuses and the injustices done to the client. This is done in order to get the expression of anger towards their partner out of them. Clients are encouraged to relate their experiences in their own term with the ultimate goal of forgiveness to their partners. The next stage in the counseling is to encourage the client to take the path of forgiveness. Once the path of forgiveness is taken, clients are advised to relinquish resentment and revenge towards their partners and to see them as a worthy human beings (Reed & Enright, 2006). Focusing on forgiveness and the inherent worth of the partner helps the emotionally abused client to see her own inherent self-worth. Because the client have discovered their own self-worth, they are now strengthened to continue using forgiveness therapy (FT) on regular basis ( Reed & Enright, 2006). References Reed, G. L., Enright, R.D. (2006). The effects of forgiveness therapy on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress for women after spousal emotional abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 74(5), 920-929. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from: http:// psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/index.cfm