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New Online Continuing Education Course on Forgiveness for Mental Health Professionals from HealthForumOnline

PRWEB.COM Newswire

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 28, 2013

HealthForumOnline (HFO), a nationally-approved (APA, ASWB, NBCC, CA-BBS) provider of online continuing education (CE) is pleased to announce a new course entitled, Healing through Forgiveness its extensive online CE resource library for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other allied healthcare professionals.

A significant part of personal growth and healing is forgiveness, both of oneself and others. We cannot move on if we are tethered to old wounds. While not a new concept, forgiveness is increasingly discussed on a societal and global level. Since conflict is inevitable in social relationships, forgiveness is a theory- and evidenced-based concept that is relevant to emotional regulation in building and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships (1). This appears to be the case, as the desire for revenge has been cited as a significant factor in homicide, violent assault and criminal property damage, U.S. school shootings, as well as enlistment in terrorist organizations (e.g., 2-4). The costs of such crimes and behaviors are great and immeasurable in the harm done to families and communities.

Much of the early research focused on the role of forgiveness in psychological processes like personality, emotion, and development. In the health psychology context, forgiveness is less explored, although a positive relationship between forgiveness and health is emerging (e.g., 5). The picture suggests that forgiveness is relevant in terms of psychophysiological reactivity, although exactly how forgiveness influences these underlying physiological mechanisms remains unclear, despite its importance in healthcare (e.g., 6).

This new online CE course from HealthForumOnline, Healing through Forgiveness by Dr. Silvie Kendall, builds a foundation of knowledge about this essential component to every day living and interpersonal relations, both personally and professionally. In addition to a review of the current research on forgiveness and its relationship to physical and emotional health, participants explore their own relationship with forgiveness and how to practice the steps of forgiveness. The clinical applications for direct patient care are discussed, including different types and models of forgiveness, beneficial effects on health, methods of forgiveness, incorporating reconciliation into patient care, and future research implications.

Psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other allied health professionals can chose from HFO’s 19 categories of continuing education (CE) topics related to health psychology and behavioral medicine containing over 80 online CE courses that are fast, convenient and cost-effective. For more information on this course or a complete listing of titles in our online CE resource library, visit HealthForumOnline.com.

About HealthForumOnline:

HealthForumOnline (HFO) is approved as a provider of CE courses by the American Psychological Association, the National Board of Certified Counselors, the Association of Social Work Boards, and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. HFO’s CE Program’s Advisory Committee and authors are comprised of over 60 nationally-recognized experts in behavioral medicine.

1.    Ho, M.Y., Fung, H.H. (2011). A Dynamic Process Model of Forgiveness: A cross-cultural perspective. Review of General Psychology, 15, 77-84.

2.    Kubrin, C.E., Weitzer, R. (2003). Retaliatory homicide: Concentrated disadvantage and neighborhood culture. Social Problems, 50, 157-180.

3.    Vossekuil, B., et al. (2002). The final report and findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the prevention of school attacks in the US. Washington, DC: US Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program and US Secret Service, National Threat Assessment Center.

4.    Speckhard, A., Ahkmedova, K. (2006). The making of a martyr: Chechen suicide terrorism. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 29, 429-492.

5.    Seybold, K.S., et al. (2001). Physiological and psychological correlates of forgiveness. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 20, 250-259.

6.    Witvliet, C. (2001). Forgiveness and health: Review and reflections on a matter of faith, feelings, and physiology. Journal of Psychology Theology, 29, 212-224.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/5/prweb10771504.htm