Running head: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 1
Journal Article Review of Healing by Forgiveness Therapy
************ ****************
Liberty University
Integration of Spirituality and Counseling
HSCO 506
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 2
Journal Article Review of Healing by Forgiveness Therapy
Summary
According to a journal article, there are some encouraging findings for those women who
suffer from emotional abuse and verbal trauma at the hands of their abuser (Reed & Enright,
2006). Emotional abuse differs from physical abuse in that the body will heal from a bruise, but
the emotional damage can last for many years after. This type of abuse can be any form of
intentional hurting, verbal cutting, ridicule, emotional control and more to illicit the illusion of
power over the victim. Of all the abuses listed, ridicule, is the most damaging, with effects that
can fester for many years after the relationship has ended (Reed & Enright, 2006).
The hypothesis of the Reed & Enright (2006) forgiveness experiment is that after
treatment, the victim would experience a marked reduction in anxiety, depression, and the other
self-induced negative emotional behaviors. This experiment would be facilitated by using a
uniform technique in therapy sessions once per week. It is theorized that a victim of emotional
and verbal abuse will continue to suffer a host of other ailments such as anxiety, posttraumatic
stress, low self-esteem, learned helplessness and depression (Reed & Enright, 2006). It is
believed that these ailments may be traced back to a continual resentment aimed at the abuser as
the root cause. If the treatment directly targeted and treated this area, then all the other ailments
stemming from there would also find healing. In the past, traditional therapy has largely
remained unsuccessful. In some situations, it would be hard to treat anxiety simultaneously with
depression (Reed & Enright, 2006).
The method to test this hypothesis was to target the continual resentment against the
perpetrator with a specific kind of forgiveness therapy (Reed & Enright, 2006). The model was
written in a standardized manual to ensure that each participant was taught the technique
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 3
uniformly (Reed & Enright, 2006). The researchers applied their forgiveness technique with a
group of emotionally abused women that matched a given criteria. These women were 2 years
removed from their abusers, lived alone or with their children and had not suffered physical
abuse (Reed & Enright, 2006). The treatment time was 4-6 week one-hour weekly therapy
sessions with an emotional health evaluation at the end (Reed & Enright, 2006). During this
time, researchers taught the victims about true forgiveness while walking them through the
process of recovery. It was important early on to lay the foundation of forgiving one’s abuser.
Forgiveness had to be a voluntary choice by the victim to metaphorically unclench the throat of
the abuser. It was also necessary for the women to understand that unforgiveness was poisoning
their minds and ultimately their physical health. Also, forgiveness did not excuse or justify the
actions of the perpetrator. Reconciliation with the abuser was adamantly discouraged while
focusing solely on healing any ongoing resentment against the perpetrator.
The results of the forgiveness therapy were as predicted. There was a significant increase
in the women’s self-esteem and a remarkable decrease in anxiety, depression, posttraumatic
stress, and a decrease in playing the part of a continual victim (Reed & Enright, 2006). These
results yielded above the results of traditional therapy. Forgiveness therapy that targeted ongoing
resentment can improve the other ailments that contribute to the decline of emotional and
physical health. At later evaluations, many of these women continued to improve and eventually
embraced a new zeal for life.
The discussion of the results was a comparison of the group of women that were treated
with traditional therapy versus those treated with forgiveness therapy. In the forgiveness group,
all women showed significant improvements against their traditional therapy counterparts. The
forgiveness group significantly reduced their anxiety and depression levels. It also helped these
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 4
women move from beyond continually playing the part of the victim to regaining the confidence
to make decisions without second-guessing themselves. These women also showed increases in
self-esteem and displaying the ability to recognize one’s self-worth. While this study was a huge
success, there were some questions raised about the validity of the reporting as the same
therapists were used for both groups.
The implications of this ground-shaking discovery are revolutionary in the counseling
field. This new technique can change how emotionally abused women are treated and healed.
This study begs the question of how effective would targeted forgiveness be against physically
abused individuals or recovering addicts. This study also suggests that unforgiveness could fester
emotionally inside and may become physical ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure,
and cancer.
Reflection
As a student entering the counseling field, I am very interested in learning more on the
Enright forgiveness therapy (Reed & Enright, 2006). I encouraged by the results made by the
forgiveness group. It was also interesting to note that these suffering women were seeing
improvement in around 6 weeks.
A scientist may see numbers as proof of success of failure, but a follower of Jesus Christ
is rejoicing with a smile. Is it any wonder that the very things that Jesus taught like forgiveness,
love and mercy would also become the scientifically proven healing balm for the victims of
abuse? I wonder if the Enright therapy would be just as beneficial for troubled teens that are
thought to be suicidal?
Application
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 5
Sue Smith, a 28-year-old single female presented in our church’s free clinic for Christian-
based counseling for the community at large. Sue was referred to our church program by the
facilitator of a local battered women’s shelter. Sue may be suffering from depression and
anxiety, while self-medicating with prescriptions purchased on the streets. She is recently
divorced from her verbally abusive alcoholic husband. She is unemployed and has very little
education. Her controlling husband’s barrage of verbal assaults centered around her weight gain
and the lack of a job. The Department of Child Protective Services has placed her two children
temporarily with her parents. It is evident that she has low self-esteem, is overweight and has
poor health. She has committed to permanently leaving the relationship in favor of getting a job
and her own place for her and the children.
As Sue enters my office, she signs the appropriate forms and gives full consent to
beginning our time in prayer. She agrees to taking the emotional trait characteristic inventory,
similar those used in the Reed & Enright study (2006). After reading this journal article on the
forgiveness technique, I began by explaining what forgiveness is and how it can heal emotionally
and physically (Reed & Enright, 2006). I explain many traits of unforgiveness such as
depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and a host of other ailments both emotional and physical
(Reed & Enright, 2006). We discuss some options available and even the possibility of a referral
to a specialist in depression. She understands that forgiveness needs to take place, but it will not
condone the abuse or establish a relationship with her former husband. After explaining
forgiveness, she agrees to forgive her husband by saying it verbally. Then she continues to
verbally forgive by listing the abuses specifically. We end the session with several Bible verses
regarding forgiveness and several that explain how valuable she is as a created being
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 6
The plan for the next session is to continue our conversation on the need for forgiveness
and the value that God places on her and her abusive husband. After gaining fresh informed
consent to continue we will also discuss how to reclaim her individual qualities such as love and
compassion for others. I will encourage her to volunteer to serve others while at the shelter, read
her Bible and memorize specific scriptures. We will plan to meet over the next 6 weeks for two-
hour forgiveness and healing sessions while ending with the emotional trait characteristic
inventory and light physical activity, such as walking around the church several times. I believe
that placing God at the center of our forgiveness will facilitate lasting change with Biblical truths
and help Sue’s healing and eventual reconnection with her children.
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW OF HEALING BY FORGIVENESS 7
Reference
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
& Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 920-929. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.74.5920
