Have you ever heard of a forgiveness therapy program? It’s a type of therapeutic care that can be a component of a professional addiction treatment program. For most people, practicing forgiveness leads to healthier and happier lives. It’s not just about saying sorry, though. It’s also about forgiving people who have done you harm and forgiving yourself. If you learn how to forgive, you’ve reached a critical step in healing and moving on from your life difficulties, like an addiction. If you’re searching for a forgiveness therapy program in Rochester, NH, we can help. Contact Bonfire Recovery by reaching out to our team online or calling 603.617.4815.
What Is the Importance of a Forgiveness Therapy Program?
Forgiveness therapy is a subtype of therapeutic care that focuses specifically on helping clients forgive and move on. Forgiveness is a process where someone who has been wronged chooses to let go of their resentments and treat the wrongdoer with understanding and compassion. It doesn’t mean condoning or forgetting the wrongdoing that happened, nor is it equal to granting legal mercy. If you forgive someone, it doesn’t mean that your relationship with the forgiven person has been reconciled. You can forgive a wrongdoer while in no way believing that what they did was in no way justified or even acceptable.
There are many different types of forgiveness therapy, but they fall into two distinct categories:
- Process-based interventions: These interventions take place over an extended period and typically use affective, behavioral, and cognitive strategies.
- Decision-based interventions: These interventions are significantly shorter, sometimes with only one session. They involve cognitive strategies and a commitment to do the work of forgiving outside of the sessions.
Clients often continue to hang on to painful emotions related to unforgiven wrongdoings. Even though they have every right to hold those emotions, they may benefit from undergoing a forgiveness therapy program. Several positive outcomes have been associated with forgiveness, such as reductions in depression, resentment, and rumination.
The Importance of Forgiveness in Healing from Addiction
As someone struggling with addiction, you may have done many things that you’re not proud of in the past. You likely did something that hurt not only yourself but also others that you love. This is where forgiveness first comes into play. While letting go of how you feel about these things that happened may seem impossible, it’s the best pathway toward recovery. Healing from addiction involves forgiving yourself first.
Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, though. Instead, it means learning from your mistakes and using that knowledge as you move forward. You’re absolving yourself from carrying self-anger with you. In letting go of the things that don’t serve you, your recovery, or anyone else around you, you’re also letting go of anything standing between you and healing.
Forgiving yourself is the hardest part, but it’s not the end. You also have to make amends with the people you may have hurt in the past. This can take a certain degree of humility, but know that you will feel more at peace when you’ve taken this essential step.
Can Someone Who Is Struggling with Addiction Recover Without Forgiveness Therapy?
The importance of forgiveness in addiction recovery can’t be overstated. While it can be difficult to do, forgiveness is a necessary part of a recovered addict’s healing journey. There can be exceptions, but this isn’t something that’s easily looked over. Sometimes, though, someone can forgive without necessarily needing to undergo a forgiveness therapy program.
Ultimately, forgiveness is about freedom for the hurt person. The goal is not necessarily to restore the disrupted relationship or achieve reconciliation. However, these can be positive outcomes. Forgiveness is, instead, meant to restore well-being and balance to the hurt person’s life.
Learn More at Bonfire Recovery Today
If you’re looking for a forgiveness therapy program in Rochester, NH, contact Bonfire Recovery today. You can reach out to our team online or call 603.617.4815.
