The Self-Forgiveness Workbook: Mindfulness and Compassion Skills to Overcome Self-Blame and Find True Self-Acceptance

(Paperback)

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Description

Many people who've experienced trauma tend to blame themselves. This tendency to self-blame often begins in childhood and is carried into adulthood, and can manifest in a number of emotional and behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and feelings of guilt and shame. You've probably tried to quiet your critical inner voice through avoidance and distraction, only to have the negative self-talk return time and time again to sabotage your self-esteem and interfere with your day-to-day life. Fortunately, you possess the power to forgive yourself and discover your inner strength.

With this workbook as your guide, you'll learn proven-effective skills that integrate self-forgiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP), and relational frame theory (RFT). You'll develop the self-compassion and self-acceptance needed to overcome the sense of shame and guilt that's keeping you from a meaningful, purposeful life. You'll also gain a new perspective on your life's story, empowering you to get in touch with your values and make an ongoing commitment to self-forgiveness-even in the face of new challenges.

Forgiving yourself does not mean the pain of the past will go away forever, but it can significantly reduce the burden you've placed on yourself. If you're ready to replace self-blame with self-empowerment and self-reliance, this book will be your guide on a journey toward healing and joy.

Reviews

"The Self-Forgiveness Workbook is an excellent addition to anyone's toolbox! Dewar gently guides the reader through the most painful aspects of their experience. If you are overwhelmed with shame, guilt, or self-judgments, this is a workbook that can transform your relationship with yourself and your loved ones."
--Jessica Borushok, PhD, creator of The ACT Therapist YouTube channel, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, and coauthor of The ACT Approach--Jessica Borushok, PhD
"Grant Dewar's book is a warm and playful invitation to walk the path of self-forgiveness. Grant has a unique charisma to create stories and images while describing painful processes. He offers insightful prompts, so that readers can reconstruct their own narratives while exploring several aspects of self-forgiveness. I felt a beam of light on each page, and a type of catharsis throughout. I finished it filled with inspiration."
--Stavroula Sanida, MSc, psychologist-psychotherapist in private practice in Greece, certified trainer in functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP), and story writer for therapeutic purposes--Stavroula Sanida, MSc
"If you get caught up in self-loathing, shame, or guilt, this book is for you. Grant's step-by-step approach will help you to recognize and expand your perspective of unhelpful patterns. The Self-Forgiveness Workbook is filled with practical exercises and skills that will empower you to make space for painful thoughts and feelings, put energy into what truly matters, and create new ways of being with yourself and with others."
--Sheri Turrell, PhD, coauthor of The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Teen Anxiety, and creator of the Choose Your Life online course for young adults at www.lifeinbalancetherapy.ca--Sheri Turrell, PhD
"In this remarkable book, Dewar fearlessly explores self-blame, unraveling its toxic grip on our lives and illuminating the transformative power of self-forgiveness. With wisdom and compassion, he guides us on a journey of self-discovery, offering insights and tools to navigate regret and self-judgment. This book seamlessly blends ancient wisdom with contemporary psychology. Through relatable stories and exercises, we confront self-blame and embrace self-forgiveness. Dewar's belief in transformative potential inspires the reader to cultivate self-compassion. A must-read for anyone struggling to forgive themselves."
--Louise McHugh, peer-reviewed acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) trainer, and coauthor of A Contextual Behavioral Guide to Self
--Louise McHugh
"Nobody is perfect. We all have acted in blameworthy ways and have done things we dearly wish we hadn't. In this warmhearted, step-by-step workbook, Grant Dewar traces a compassionate path to self-forgiveness. In this book, you'll learn how to transform the heaviest burden into a healthy sense of self-worth. At the end of this journey, you'll feel inspired to become the worthy human that you always were, and shine!"
--Benjamin Schoendorff, founder of the Contextual Psychology Institute in Montreal, QC, Canada; author of several books on ACT; and international trainer--Benjamin Schoendorff
"One of the most challenging things we are asked to do as human beings is to forgive ourselves. It seems to be the advice we are getting everywhere. In The Self-Forgiveness Workbook, Grant Dewar walks us through concise, compassionate practices that make room for the pain we face with the gift of self-forgiveness. It truly is a gift you should give yourself."
--Holly Yates, MS, LCMHC, certified FAP trainer--Holly Yates, MS, LCMHC
"This book is like a warm and compassionate blanket, embracing you when you need it the most. It teaches you the possibility and power of self-forgiveness, while inviting you to embrace yourself with gentle kindness. Don't miss this transformative journey--it's a gift that both you and your inner critic deserve."
--Rikke Kjelgaard, psychologist, author, ACT trainer, and chief 'rock'n'roller' at www.rikkekjelgaard.com
--Rikke Kjelgaard
"This workbook reads like a warm hug. Gentle and assertive at the same time, full of real and relatable examples and exercises, this book is just what we need when we struggle with one of life's biggest challenges--forgiving ourselves."
--Janina Scarlet, PhD, author of Superhero Therapy
--Janina Scarlet, PhD

Author Bio

Grant Dewar, PhD, is adjunct lecturer in the school of psychology at The University of Adelaide in South Australia. After losing his father to suicide, Grant embarked on a life journey to seek better responses and solutions to the devastating effects of self-harm to individuals and the community. Work in the community, public service, and later in life as a health and clinical psychologist has helped him to develop, research, and apply his work on self-forgiveness