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Handbook of the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness pp 207–218Cite as

Self-Directed Intervention to Promote Self-Forgiveness

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Abstract

Intervention research promoting self-forgiveness for one’s wrongdoing or perception of “wrong-being” has only recently been initiated. Self-directed interventions are an important strategy, because offenses may cause feelings of self-condemnation that elicit avoidance-oriented coping and discourage individuals from seeking traditional modalities of psychotherapy (e.g., individual, group, couple, or family settings). Also, self-directed interventions can circumvent logistic barriers to traditional methods of delivering psychotherapy (e.g., geographic isolation, financial insecurity, and help-seeking stigma). In the current chapter, we offer a critical overview of self-directed interventions for decreasing self-condemnation and increasing self-forgiveness, acknowledging advantages and disadvantages of using self-directed treatments compared to more intensive treatment modalities. We conclude by identifying directions for future research and practical implications situating self-directed interventions alongside more traditional modalities of delivering psychological services within a triaged care model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Brandon J. Griffin

  2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Everett L. Worthington Jr.

  3. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Christopher M. Bell & Don E. Davis

Authors
  1. Brandon J. Griffin
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  2. Everett L. Worthington Jr.
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  3. Christopher M. Bell
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  4. Don E. Davis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brandon J. Griffin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Lydia Woodyatt

  2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Everett L. Worthington, Jr.

  3. School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Michael Wenzel

  4. San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA

    Brandon J. Griffin

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Griffin, B.J., Worthington, E.L., Bell, C.M., Davis, D.E. (2017). Self-Directed Intervention to Promote Self-Forgiveness. In: Woodyatt, L., Worthington, Jr., E., Wenzel, M., Griffin, B. (eds) Handbook of the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60573-9_15

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