ODL 384: Self-Forgiveness Interventions in Therapy

Created On:  2/2/26                  

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.

Counselor Skill Groups: 

3. Treatment Plan
4. Counseling Services

Overview:

This training explores the process of self-forgiveness, focusing on how individuals can move forward after causing harm to others. Drawing on current research and clinical practice, the program examines the Four Rs of Self-Forgiveness—Responsibility, Remorse, Restoration, and Renewal—as a framework for guiding clients from being stuck in guilt and shame toward emotional healing and self-acceptance. Each component will be illustrated through personal stories and clinical vignettes, with practical interventions provided for promoting and practicing each stage. 

Participants will learn strategies to help individuals acknowledge harm without defensiveness, process healthy remorse, take meaningful steps to repair damage, and embrace personal growth and resilience. By breaking down the self-forgiveness process into actionable steps, this training aims to equip professionals with tools that can improve mental health outcomes, strengthen relationships, and foster greater overall well-being.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Define self-forgiveness in a way that helps direct work with people who are seeking to forgive themselves for hurting others.
• Describe each of the Four Rs of Self-Forgiveness: Responsibility, Remorse, Restoration, and Renewal
• Identify at least one intervention to help promote each of the Four Rs.
• Identify three specific ways to integrate self-forgiveness interventions into ongoing psychotherapy or counseling practice with clients.
• Describe three contraindications for doing self-forgiveness work with clients.

Presenter:

Nathaniel G. Wade, PhD, Iowa State University

Following his undergrad graduation, Dr. Wade worked for 4 years as an addictions counselor in both an abstinence-based agency and a methadone clinic. He then went to graduate school for counseling psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. He finished his PhD in 2003 and joined the Iowa State faculty that same year. He is now associate chair and professor of psychology at Iowa State and founding director of Network Community Counseling Services. He is a licensed psychologist in the state of Iowa and a certified group psychotherapist.

Nathaniel’s research interests center on the processes and outcomes of psychotherapy. Specifically, he has worked to develop and test interventions to promote forgiveness, to understand the impact of integrating religion and spirituality into psychotherapy, and to reduce the stigma associated with seeking counseling. His most recent interest is integrating exercise into psychotherapy. He has published three edited books, over 100 scholarly articles and chapters, and has received over 7 million in grant funding. He is an APA fellow of two divisions: Group Psychology and Psychotherapy, and the Society of Counseling Psychology.

When not working, he enjoys spending time with family, hiking in the mountains of New England, listening to podcasts and audiobooks while working outside, and playing soccer each week with the “over-the-hill” crowd.