Forgiving, but not necessarily forgetting

How can forgiveness be relevant to mental health nurses? Possible answers include when working with clients who are angry or depressed who focus on the harm another person has caused them, especially if the harm was not intra-familial violence, where the perpetrator is likely to re-offend; or when working with those involved in workplace incidents where an individual has created distress among coworkers. This column provides an overview of the definitions of forgiveness and unforgivingness; discusses the antecedents, processes, and consequences associated with forgiving another; and briefly addresses issues surrounding self-forgiveness.