The objective of this study was to relate the in-session processes involved in interpersonal forgiveness to outcome. The sample consisted of 33 couples who received 10-12 sessions of Emotion-focused couple therapy with the aim of resolving various forms of emotional injuries (i.e., transgression that violates the expectations of a close relationship, which leaves one partner feeling hurt and angry). The results of the present study were based on the analyses of 205 video-taped segments from 33 couples' therapies. Hypotheses relating the role of three in-session components of resolution, the injurer's "expression of shame"; the injured partner's "accepting response" to the shame, and the injured partner's "in-session expression of forgiveness", to outcome were tested using hierarchical linear regression analyses. Outcome measures included the Enright Forgiveness Inventory (The Enright Forgiveness Inventory user's manual. Madison: The International Forgiveness Institute, 2000), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Journal of Marriage and Family, 1976; 13: 723) and the The Interpersonal Trust Scale (Trust; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1985; 49: 95).

This study explored how forgiveness unfolds in the context of emotion-focused couples therapy (EFT-C) in eight cases of women betrayed by their partners. Forgiveness was defined as a process involving the reduction in negative feelings and the giving out of undeserved compassion. This was measured by changes in the pre- and posttreatment scores on the Enright Forgiveness Inventory, the Unfinished Business Resolution Scale, and a single item directly asking respondents to indicate their degree of forgiveness. A task analysis was performed to rigorously track the steps leading to forgiveness using videotapes of therapy sessions for eight couples. The performance of the four couples who forgave were compared with each other and then contrasted with the performance of another four couples who did not reach forgiveness at the end of therapy. Based on these observations, a model of the process of forgiveness in EFT-C and a process rating system were developed.

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humanistic psychology and psychotherapy are characterized by a positive view of human functioning, a commitment to phenomenology, a belief in the capacity for self-determination, the promotion of in-therapy experiencing, and a commitment to a person-centered therapeutic relationship (Greenberg, elliott, & lietaer, 2003). in working with couples and families, the therapist aims to understand empathically people's experience within the system in a nonjudgmental and nonpathologizing manner. according to Gurman (2008), the therapist does so with the intention of helping individuals enhance their relationships.although there are a variety of humanistic approaches to working with couples and families, this chapter outlines the new developments in theory and research relevant to those that are empirically supported. currently, this includes relationship enhancement (re) therapy, emotion-focused couples therapy (eFT-c), Gottman's method for couple therapy, filial family therapy eMpiricallY supporTed huMaNisTic approaches To WorKiNG WiTh couples aNd FaMilies caTaliNa WoldarsKY MeNeses aNd roBerT F. scuKa

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