“Choosing to Forgive” highlights the importance of forgiveness in healing emotional wounds caused by past hurts. It explains that while forgiveness doesn’t change past events, it releases bitterness and resentment, bringing inner peace and the opportunity to restore relationships. The lesson distinguishes between forgiveness, which addresses past grievances, and trust, which must be earned going forward. Forgiveness is an act of will, not contingent on apologies or the other person’s actions, and it ultimately benefits the forgiver by reducing emotional distress and fostering personal well-being.

Developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Hal Baumchen, PsyD, LP, LADC, this printable PDF lesson gives clinicians a structured psychoeducation tool grounded in clinical evidence and accessible to clients at any stage of treatment. The writing is direct and encouraging – clinical without sounding clinical.

How clinicians use it: to structure a session with a clear teaching framework, as assigned reading between sessions, to facilitate group discussion, and as part of a treatment unit paired with the companion worksheets and presentation. Clients leave with concrete strategies and a clearer understanding of how this topic affects their path forward.

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