Self ForgiveNess Therapy At InsightDBT IN- Person/Telehealth

At InsightDBT, we offer a specialized treatment track called Self-Forgiveness Psychotherapy, designed for individuals struggling with shame, guilt, and a deeply negative sense of self. These emotions often linger long after behavioral symptoms improve and can quietly erode confidence, relationships, and recovery progress.

Self-Forgiveness Psychotherapy helps clients move from self-condemnation to self-acceptance. The process emphasizes accountability without self-attack—acknowledging past mistakes while cultivating a balanced and humane view of oneself. Research shows that unresolved shame is strongly linked to depression and self-criticism, while learning self-forgiveness improves well-being and emotional stability.

Our program integrates principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with mindfulness, compassion-focused work, and behavioral repair strategies. 

Clients are guided to:

• Identify and understand shame-based self-judgments.
• Differentiate guilt (focused on behavior) from shame (focused on self).
• Practice self-compassion using DBT mindfulness and emotion-regulation skills.
• Develop actionable steps for repair, growth, and moving forward.

Self-Forgiveness Psychotherapy blends seamlessly into standard DBT treatment. When feelings of shame or guilt arise, clients learn to apply DBT’s four skill sets—Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness—to manage these experiences skillfully. The result is not only emotional relief but also sustainable behavioral change and an improved sense of self-worth.

• Shame and Depression: A meta-analysis of over 100 studies found that shame is more strongly related to depression than guilt, underscoring its clinical importance (Kim et al., 2011).
• Forgiveness and Well-Being: Meta-analytic data show self-forgiveness is positively correlated with psychological health and negatively with depression and anxiety (Davis et al., 2015).
• Self-Compassion: Structured self-compassion training reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and promotes long-term resilience (MacBeth & Gosling, 2021).

Davis, D. E., Ho, M. Y., Griffin, B. J., Bell, C. J., Westbrook, C., Van Tongeren, D. R., DeBlaere, C., & Worthington, E. L. Jr. (2015). Forgiving the self and physical and mental health correlates: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Counseling & Development, 93(4), 415-424. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12072

Kim, S., Thibodeau, R., & Jorgensen, R. S. (2011). Shame, guilt, and depressive symptoms: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 137(1), 68-96. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021466

MacBeth, A., & Gosling, J. C. (2021). Self-compassion and anxiety and depression in chronic physical illness: A meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 12(3), 402-416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01602-y