Integrating Forgiveness Therapy and the Treatment of Anger: A Randomized Controlled Trial

<p>Although the costs of uncontrolled anger are well-known, interventions for anger are less frequently studied and less effective than interventions for either depression or anxiety (NAMA, 2012). One hundred eighty-seven patients requesting anger management treatment at an outpatient counseling center in Denver participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: an experimental treatment integrating forgiveness therapy and anger management, or anger treatment as usual. Treatment consisted of twelve 90-minute sessions held once a week in small groups led by group facilitators. Participants in both treatment conditions reported clinically significant decreases in state anger and increases in anger control and forgiveness, with the experimental treatment outperforming treatment as usual on all outcome variables. These findings suggest that adding a forgiveness component to anger treatment may increase the efficacy of treatment for anger. Furthermore, results of this study suggest that forgiveness therapy may be efficacious not just with victims, but with offenders as well.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Ballard, Michael Schaefer

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cynthia McRae, Ph.D.
• Kathy Green
• Patton Garriott
• Mohammad Matin

• Anger
• Forgiveness
• Group counseling
• Counseling
• Counseling Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1324

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-2324