Expanding the Horizons of Forgiveness Therapy: A Cross-Cultural Application with a Bedouin-Arab Woman.

This paper highlights forgiveness therapy, a therapeutic approach that has received limited attention in the social work literature. This study represents a beginning exploration of its cross-cultural application. Theoretical and empirical perspectives on forgiveness and forgiveness promoting psycho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical Social Work Journal Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 395 - 408
Main Author: Lander, Itzhak
Format: Case Study
Published: Springer Nature Dec2014
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:This paper highlights forgiveness therapy, a therapeutic approach that has received limited attention in the social work literature. This study represents a beginning exploration of its cross-cultural application. Theoretical and empirical perspectives on forgiveness and forgiveness promoting psychotherapy are provided, and Enright's pioneering process model is delineated. A case study of the utilization of forgiveness therapy with an Israeli Bedouin-Arab woman who experienced a traumatic interpersonal injury within the polygamous family is presented. LaRoche and Maxie's guidelines for conducting cross-cultural psychotherapy are utilized to examine important dynamics that emerge in the case study. These authors' recommendations, which are consistent with a process-oriented conceptualization of culture, as well as intersectionality, appear potentially useful for informing the transcultural application of forgiveness therapy. Future research questions and directions related to the utilization of forgiveness promoting psychotherapy with diverse populations are considered.