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Workbook 06:
Repair & Forgiveness

This is a part of the workbook that you do not want to skip. You might have a sneaking suspicion that there will be difficulties ahead in your relationship. Perhaps no other relationship in our lives so clearly exposes our tendency to get tired, selfish, and even downright mean at times. Couples' strong attachment makes for a great bond and great potential for offense. Research is clear that healthy couples have the ability to repair their relationship and forgive when there are offenses.

Image by Steve DiMatteo

01

Apologize Well & Often

One of the most important habits a couple can have is to apologize for offenses with good interpersonal skills.

02

What is Forgiveness?

It's important to think about different ways to repair your relationship.  Forgiveness is one way.  But people often lump all types of repair into the forgiveness bucket.  Dr. Ripley describes what forgiveness is, and is not.

Holding Hands
everett worthington

03

The REACH Model Forgiveness

Dr. Everett Worthington, Ph.D., leading expert in forgiveness discusses the REACH model of forgiveness in this video.

04

Can We REACH forgiveness?

This is a therapeutic exercise for couples to work toward forgiveness by first working through forgiveness with someone other than your partner, and then work through several target offenses as a couple. You will find your way to forgiveness with these exercises.

Couple Therapy REACH Forgiveness
REACH forgiveness workbook

-05

The Forgiveness Workbook

Dr. Worthington has created a free self-paced forgiveness workbook.  There are dozens of research studies that demonstrate that time spent working on forgiving will move towards your goal of letting go of offenses. You can each complete the workbooks individually between therapy sessions and discuss.

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