The use of a decision-based forgiveness intervention within intergenerational family therapy

The intervention presented here links intergenerational theory and therapy with a step-by-step forgiveness strategy. Forgiveness is defined from a cognitive perspective so that it can be applied within a family-of-origin session. In practice, the forgiveness strategy has been effective in breaking dysfunctional patterns from the past that have been carried into the new family. Long-term effects of forgiveness are analysed through a case study that includes a six-year follow-up of a family-of-origin forgiveness intervention.