About forgiveness
This page lists therapists who focus on forgiveness and related healing work. Browse therapist profiles below to compare their approaches, credentials, languages and experience.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether forgiveness is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page has forgiveness among the areas they told the platform they work with. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for forgiveness
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingAngela Teasdale, NCPS
Ref 119622
Supportive counsellor focusing on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingJoy Nussen, LMFT
Ref 13668
Practical, compassionate therapy for adults
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingCindy Singh, LCSW
Ref 307805
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingHeidi-Christa Adams, LPC
Ref 355066
Compassionate counselor guiding practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingDallas Bentley, ACA
Ref 345691
Practical support for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingTomasz Konieczny, BACP, NCPS
Ref 199992
Practical, compassionate online counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English, Polish
View listingSimon Nelson, BACP
Ref 281876
Calm, straightforward support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Grief Languages: English
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingClement West, BACP
Ref 167549
Gentle, practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDavid Potts, LCSW
Ref 23255
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingNicola Claydon, NCPS
Ref 183763
Calm, practical support for complex life issues
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingPamela Benoit, NCPS, BACP
Ref 180577
Compassionate practical psychotherapy
Works with: Relationship, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingRichard Gordon-Smith , NCPS
Ref 120083
Straightforward, experienced counsellor for complex issues
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingIvy Medow, LPC
Ref 300506
Practical counseling for life transitions
Works with: Family, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingAnnette OBryant, LPC
Ref 77726
Compassionate counselor focused on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingCaroline Woodford, BACP
Ref 203033
Person-centred counselling with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Eating Languages: English
View listingVictoria Postles, BACP
Ref 164179
Practical, person-led counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDanielle Horn, LMSW
Ref 272733
Focused therapy that digs to the root
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingWellington Cesar Assis Bueno, BACP
Ref 226813
Healing emotions, building clearer choices
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingKizzie Wells-Daniels, LPC
Ref 67515
Therapist for stress, parenting, and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Anger Languages: English
View listingAllysia Steward, LCSW
Ref 331970
Compassionate skills-based therapy for daily life
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJanos Bene, BACP
Ref 277642
Calm, practical counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingRebecca "Becca" Mather, BACP
Ref 236007
Compassionate, practical support for life’s pressures
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJoanne Rothery, NCPS
Ref 179003
Compassionate counsellor for stress and trauma
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDr. Heather Clark, LPC
Ref 126027
Calm-focused therapy with practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJennifer Lee Sylvester, LCSW
Ref 116075
Experienced LCSW offering respectful, practical care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSara Lowe, LPC
Ref 104527
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingJulie Peterson, LCSW
Ref 315653
Compassionate, practical support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingFrank Centonze, LPC
Ref 297421
Direct, practical counseling for emotional recovery
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingLauren Anzelone, LCSW
Ref 70436
Supportive LCSW guiding practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Anger, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAlexandra Matustik, LMFT
Ref 350108
Compassionate therapist for life transitions
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Parenting Languages: English
View listingCozy Gray, LPC
Ref 349996
Practical support for stress and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Coping with life changes Languages: English
View listingFaryal Choudry, LCSW
Ref 266995
Compassionate guidance for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSherry Ramsey Hansen, LPC
Ref 352558
Collaborative counselor focused on practical progress
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAdrian Jackson, BACP
Ref 271038
Compassionate counsellor using practical, person-focused methods
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDestiny York, LPC
Ref 340789
Compassionate, practical counseling for life changes
Works with: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSarah Anderson, NCPS
Ref 133882
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingCecile Terrelonge, BACP
Ref 134582
Person-centred counsellor offering practical support
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Family Languages: English
View listingAnjanette Morton, LMHC
Ref 207471
Calm, practical support for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDiane Silvestri Wade, LCSW-R
Ref 206236
Compassionate, practical support for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Grief Languages: English
View listingCallie Roberts, LPC
Ref 261180
Calm practical support for everyday challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Anger Languages: English
View listingDianna Wheeler, LPC
Ref 354614
Practical support for healing and stronger coping skills
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingStacey Tenbrink, LMHC, LPC
Ref 326268
Compassionate, practical therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJohn Swearengin, LPC
Ref 93490
Practical support for stress, addiction, and mood
Works with: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingKamilah Matthew, LCSW
Ref 346090
Compassionate, practical therapy for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingMore about forgiveness
Understanding Forgiveness and Its Emotional Impact
Forgiveness is often described as an intentional process of shifting how you relate to a hurtful event or to someone who caused pain. It does not necessarily mean you excuse what happened or that you must reconcile with the person who harmed you. Instead, forgiveness can be a way of loosening the grip that resentment, anger and ongoing rumination have on your daily life. People come to forgiveness work with a wide range of experiences - from recent conflicts to long-standing wounds, betrayals, cultural or systemic harms, losses and regrets.
The emotional impact of forgiveness-related work varies. For some people, beginning this work brings relief and a clearer sense of what they value in relationships. For others, the process raises complex feelings such as grief, moral conflict, shame or renewed anger before it settles into something different. Forgiveness can change how you make decisions about boundaries and connection. It can also reshape how you tell the story of what happened and what you want going forward. Because the work touches on values, identity and relationships, it often requires careful pacing and attention to your emotional safety.
Signs You Might Benefit from Forgiveness-Focused Work
You might consider forgiveness-focused therapy if you notice patterns that interfere with your wellbeing or relationships. If you find yourself replaying a hurtful interaction repeatedly, feeling stuck in anger, or avoiding people or situations tied to the wound, these can be signals that the experience is unresolved. Persistent distrust, difficulty forming close relationships, or repeated conflicts that echo an earlier betrayal are other common reasons people seek support. You may also be coping with internal dilemmas - wanting to forgive but feeling guilty or believing that forgiveness would minimize the harm done. These mixed feelings are normal, and addressing them can help you make choices that align with your values.
Forgiveness work is not only for those harmed by others. You may be wrestling with forgiving yourself for past actions, decisions or perceived failures. Self-forgiveness often involves unpacking shame and reconciling your sense of who you are now with who you were then. Whether your focus is toward someone else or yourself, therapy can help you clarify what forgiveness would mean for your life, what limits you want to keep or set, and how to move forward in ways that feel honest and sustainable.
What to Expect in Forgiveness Therapy Sessions
When you begin forgiveness-focused sessions, expect the therapist to spend time understanding the story from your perspective, including the context and what the hurt means to you. Early work typically centers on building a space where you can explore emotions without pressure to reach a particular outcome. You and your therapist will likely map out what you hope to achieve - for example, decreasing intrusive thoughts, restoring a sense of agency, expressing boundaries, or repairing a relationship if that is appropriate for you.
Therapy often combines reflective conversation with practical exercises. You may be invited to explore the narrative you tell yourself about the event, examine underlying beliefs that keep resentment alive, practice emotion regulation skills, or rehearse difficult conversations. Some therapists incorporate role play or guided imagery to help you experiment with different responses. The pace is usually collaborative, so you can process anger and grief while also exploring small steps that build toward a different relationship with the memory. Ethical considerations, safety and respect for your choices about contact or reconciliation are central to the work.
Common Therapeutic Approaches Used for Forgiveness
Therapists draw from a range of approaches depending on your goals and preferences. Many people find cognitive and behavioral methods helpful for examining the thoughts that sustain anger or shame, so you may encounter therapists who list cognitive behavioral therapy among their approaches. If your experience involves trauma-related memories, you might find therapists who list EMDR among their approaches among those who work with memory processing techniques. Other practitioners bring narrative perspectives that focus on how the story of harm is constructed and how alternate narratives can open different possibilities for action. Mindfulness and compassion-focused practices are also common because they cultivate noticing, nonjudgmental awareness and self-directed kindness, which can be central to both forgiving and setting limits.
Acceptance and values-oriented approaches are often used to help you clarify what forgiveness would mean in the context of your values and life goals. Some therapists emphasize relational approaches that address patterns in family or intimate dynamics, helping you see how past hurts shape current interactions. It is common for therapists to combine elements from multiple frameworks, and you can look for profiles that describe the approaches you are curious about. Remember that profiles usually list approaches rather than verify training, so you can frame questions to learn how a therapist applies those methods in practice.
How Online Therapy Works for Forgiveness Work
Online therapy has become a common way to engage in forgiveness work, and it can offer flexibility if you prefer meeting from your home or another convenient location. Sessions frequently take place via video call, phone, or text-based messaging platforms. When you choose online work, it helps to plan a quiet, undisturbed space where you can speak freely and focus. You may also want to use headphones for clearer audio and to reduce the chance of being overheard. A stable internet connection makes video sessions smoother, though many therapists can adapt to phone sessions when needed.
Online therapy can make it easier to maintain continuity with a therapist if you move or travel, and it can broaden your options if you are seeking a counselor who speaks your language or who lists a particular approach. The same principles of rapport, pacing and mutual respect apply whether sessions are in person or remote. If you have questions about how someone conducts online sessions, you can look for profile details about session formats and the kinds of exercises they offer remotely. Many people find the combination of reflective conversation and at-home practice especially useful for forgiveness work because it lets you integrate insights into your everyday environment.
Tips for Choosing a Therapist for Forgiveness Work
Choosing a therapist is an individual process. Start by identifying what matters most to you - whether that is a therapist who has experience with relational wounds, someone who lists mindfulness or compassion-focused approaches, or a practitioner who shares your language and cultural perspective. Read profiles to compare focus areas, approaches, credentials and experience so you can form an initial sense of fit. Consider practical questions such as session length, typical meeting format and how a therapist describes their approach to boundary-setting and reconciliation.
When you reach out to a therapist, you can ask how they typically structure forgiveness-focused sessions and what kinds of exercises they might use. You might also inquire about how they navigate issues of safety and repair when the work touches on ongoing relationships. Trust your sense of whether you feel heard and respected in initial communications and whether their explanations align with your goals. Forgiveness is rarely a linear process, and a therapist who helps you clarify small, achievable steps while honoring your values can make the work more manageable. Ultimately, the right match is one where you feel able to explore difficult emotions and make choices that serve your long-term wellbeing.