Abstract

In recent years promoting forgiveness has become popular in mental health circles. Lending credence to its popularity is research suggesting that forgiveness improves mental health. Those who caution against universal forgiveness most often write from the vantage point of philosophy, where the emphasis is on forgiveness as an ethical issue, one concerning rights and duties, versus a psychological issue. In cases of trauma, issues of forgiveness are often of paramount concern – both forgiveness of others and self-forgiveness. Due to guilt and shame over the trauma, individuals may engage in self-harm behavior as a form of self-punishment, which in turns refl ects damaged selfrespect. The paper focuses primarily on self-forgiveness and restoration of self-respect in situations of trauma. In order for self-forgiveness to occur, a moral community must take a role in providing safety and restorative love. The paper explores perspectives on forgiveness, self-forgiveness and trauma