부산대학교 도서관

The purpose of this study is to examine how Christian faith helps forgiveness intervention for a female counselee who experienced domestic violence by her spouse, through the analysis of a counseling case. Specifically, the study tries to answer a research question, “How does Christian faith help a domestic violence victim in forgiving process?” Domestic violence against female spouse produces not only physical pains but also, more severly, psychological problems such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. This study investigates forgiveness intervention in the process of helping overcome emotional problems of a counselee by employing single case study method. Everett Worthington, Jr.‘s Pyramid Model as well as the content of Christian faith are used in forgiveness intervention through actual counseling sessions. The result of analysis of the case shows that despite the cease of violence years ago, emotional pains still resides in the victim’s heart, but Worthington’s forgiveness model supported by Christian faith helped the counselee forgive through counseling sessions. Five themes regarding Christian faith motivating the counselee to forgive are found in the case analysis: “God’s empathic love,” “forgiveness as commandment,” “forgiveness as grace”, and “forgiveness as process.” The study also provides two implications for Christian counseling: the necessity of readiness for forgiveness, and distinguishing forgiveness and reconciliation. Finally, it suggests the need of biblical forgiveness manual to enhance forgiveness practice in daily lives.