Nathaniel G Wade

Iowa State University | ISU · Department of Psychology

Objective: This meta-analysis addressed the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions to help people forgive others and to examine moderators of treatment effects. Method: Eligible studies reported quantitative data on forgiveness of a specific hurt following treatment by a professional with an intervention designed explicitly to promote forgi...

There has been increased discussion of the need to attend to clients' spirituality and religion as a part of the counseling process, but much of the literature to date has focused on individual counseling. How do the research and resulting practice implications apply to group counseling? This article provides a rationale for attending to spirituali...

Abstract Interventions to promote forgiveness are effective. However, in what ways and in comparison to what other treatments is still unresolved. College students (n=112) who had been hurt in the past and struggled to overcome their negative experiences of it participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, one foc...

One of the major obstacles to seeking psychological help is the stigma associated with counseling and therapy. Self-stigma, the fear of losing self-respect or self-esteem as a result of seeking help, is an important factor in the help-seeking process. In the present study, college students meeting a clinical cutoff for psychological symptoms partic...

Group psychotherapy has been shown to be equivalent to individual therapy for many disorders, including anxiety, depression, grief, eating disorders, and schizophrenia (Burlingame & Strauss, 2021). In addition to effectiveness in reducing symptoms, group offers members a sense of belonging, purpose, hope, altruism, and meaning throughout treatment...

This chapter examines the intersection of stigma and mental health in certain sects of Abrahamic religious traditions (including sects of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). Research has shown people in many religious communities underutilize mental health services. Although there are numerous reasons for this underutilization, the stigma against me...

Stigma is a powerful force that is not easily dismantled. The goal of the Handbook of Stigma and Mental Health is to assist with policy changes, interventions, and movement toward social justice by presenting the breadth and depth of the work on mental health stigma. The authors of the Handbook have provided a deep and more complete picture of what...

Depression (DEP) is prevalent and current treatments are ineffective for many people. This pilot study's purpose was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and plausible efficacy of an 8-week intervention employing 30 min of prescribed moderate intensity exercise (“ActiveCBT”) compared to 30 min of usual activities (“CalmCBT”) immediately prior...

The stigma of seeking counseling and negative attitudes about counseling are primary barriers to its use. In the only known study examining the utility of attending a group counseling session to ameliorate stigma (no control group), participation was associated with reductions in self-stigma (Wade et al., 2011). Self-affirmation interventions have...

Background Acute exercise generally improves mood state and cognitive functioning in healthy adults. However, the impact of acute exercise on primary symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) is poorly understood. The present randomized cross-over study evaluated the magnitude, timing, and duration of the psychological effects of 30 m...

US service members are at elevated risk for distress and suicidal behavior, compared to the general US population. However, despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, only 40% of Service members in need of mental health care seek help. One potential reason for the lower use of services is that service members experience stigma or concer...

Although research on the stigma associated with mental health care has grown substantially in the last decade, most of this work focuses on outpatient treatment; recent research on the stigma associated with inpatient treatment is strikingly absent. In this study, we examined the stigma of seeking professional psychological help from outpatient and...

Empathy toward one’s offender has been identified as an important variable in the forgiveness process, but elements of the empathy—forgiveness connection have yet to be explored. The current study experimentally examined both direct and indirect methods of promoting general empathy (i.e., empathy not connected specifically to the offense) toward a...

Two experiments ( N = 487) tested the effects of receiving an apology (absent, present) and restitution (absent, present) in imagery of a one-sided transgression and common property crime, a burglary scenario. Within a framework of accountability, apology and restitution represent relationally responsive responsibility-taking and repair efforts by...

This study evaluated the dimensionality, invariance, and reliability of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale–21 (DASS-21) within and across Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Romania, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United States ( N = 2,580) in college student samples. We used confirmatory factor analyses to compare the fit of four diff...

Despite continued empirical support for a relationship between group cohesion and therapeutic gain, few studies have attempted to examine predictors of cohesion during the life of counseling groups. The present investigation explored the impact of client variables, group characteristics, and first-session leader behaviors on changes in cohesion acr...

Forgiving others for their offenses has been shown to have considerable, wide-ranging effects for people from improved relationship satisfaction and mental health to better physical health in old age. Furthermore, evidence shows that professional interventions designed to help people forgive others are effective. However, little research has explor...

One effective strategy for combatting racism and promoting understanding across racial lines is structured dialogue (e.g., Nagda, 2006). Previous research on structured racial dialogues has used a self-selecting participant pool of individuals who are motivated to participate in racial dialogues (e.g., Gurin, Nagda, & Zúñiga, 2013). However, previo...

Spiritual well-being is increasingly recognized as a distinctive, important, and cross-cultural concept in quality of life assessment. The Spiritual Quality of Life-9 subscale (SQOL-9) of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Spirituality, Religiousness, and Personal Beliefs brief instrument (WHOQOL-SRPB BREF) was designed to facilitate c...

This study assessed the relationship between the stigma of seeking psychological help and use of outpatient behavioral health services over a 2-year period among active duty military service members initially referred for neuropsychological evaluation secondary to their histories of mild traumatic brain injury. Although research has examined how st...

Student veterans experiencing mental health concerns could benefit from seeking counseling (Rudd, Goulding, & Bryan, 2011), though they often avoid these services. Self-affirmation interventions have been developed to increase openness to health-related behaviors (Sherman & Cohen, 2006), and may also help promote psychological help-seeking intentio...

Evidence indicates that self-construal is related to an individual’s perspective on granting forgiveness to an offender. One explanation suggests that people who have greater interdependent self-construal forgive others more often because they are motivated to forgive to keep the relationship intact. Furthermore, such forgiveness might lead to grea...

Forgiveness-based group treatments to address interpersonal hurts have been shown to be efficacious across a range of therapy models (Wade, Hoyt, Kidwell, & Worthington, 2014). However, little is known about how treatment and individual characteristics may interact in predicting outcomes. The present study examined a sample of 162 community adults...

50 free e-prints available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/sJgtdssqeS2Eht5RqTjj/full Forgiveness interventions have been employed in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. Few attempts have been made to deliver forgiveness interventions via community-based campaigns. In the current field study, we administered a community-ba...

When patients enter individual psychotherapy with guilt or shame over past actions or inactions that hurt themselves or others, self-forgiveness can be a powerful tool to help patients move forward. To be effective, however, therapists must be able to determine when self-forgiveness is an appropriate goal for individual counseling, and they must ha...

On its face, self-forgiveness sounds like something that an individual should do best. Individuals can work alone to bring about self-forgiveness, as has been illustrated by several interventions that aim to promote self-forgiveness using self-directed workbooks or individual psychotherapy. Only one existing intervention uses a group—a psychoeducat...

Stigma is one of the most commonly cited barriers toward seeking mental health services for men in the military. Although factors like socialized masculine norms (i.e., restrictive emotionality) and levels of distress are associated with stigma in civilian samples, less is known about these factors for men in the military. This study examines how d...

Stigma is an important barrier to seeking psychological services worldwide. Two types of stigma exist: public stigma and self-stigma. Scholars have argued that public stigma leads to self-stigma, and then self-stigma is the primary predictor of attitudes toward seeking psychological services. However, this assertion is largely limited to U.S. sampl...

Although positive religious coping is generally viewed as an adaptive, functional coping pattern, some studies have actually found positive religious coping to be associated with more distress in military populations. In the current study, we examined the role of positive religious coping on distress across 2 time points. Participants in this study...

A recent qualitative review by Wood, Froh, and Geraghty (2010) cast doubt on the efficacy of gratitude interventions, suggesting the need to carefully attend to the quality of comparison groups. Accordingly, in a series of meta-analyses, we evaluate the efficacy of gratitude interventions (ks = 4-18; Ns = 395-1,755) relative to a measurement-only c...

This pilot study examined the effectiveness of a new emotion-focused individual counseling intervention designed to increase self-forgiveness for regretted actions committed against another person. Exactly 26 adult participants (21 completers) who indicated they had unresolved emotions about a past offense enrolled in the study and were randomly as...

This pilot study evaluated a manualized group forgiveness module within dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). The study utilized a quasi-experimental double pretest design with adults (N = 40; 88.1% female, 11.9% male) diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in outpatient DBT. Measures of forgiveness, attachment, and psychiatric symptoms were...

This study examined the relationship between public and self-stigma of seeking behavioral health services, and help-seeking attitudes and intent in a sample of active duty military personnel currently being assessed for traumatic brain injuries in a military health center. Although it has been suggested that many military personnel in need of care...

Self-forgiveness is associated with psychological and relational well-being and may be a worthwhile treatment goal for clients who have hurt others. The authors utilized theoretical and empirical literature to describe a 4-component therapeutic model of self-forgiveness—responsibility, remorse, restoration, and renewal—and offer suggestions for pro...

In the growing literature on the psychology of forgiveness, definitions play a crucial role. Depending on how one defines forgiveness, the information gathered, conclusions drawn, and implications suggested can differ widely. This is particularly true for the relationship between forgiveness and health outcomes. In this chapter we review the theolo...

We report a decade review of studies conducted to investigate the relationship between forgiveness and mental health. The salutary effects of forgiveness among victims of offense are summarized according to four propositions: (1) Unforgiveness is a stress-reaction related to poor mental health, (2) Forgiveness is a coping strategy related to improv...

Given the dramatic rates of mental health concerns among military veterans, more needs to be done to connect wounded warriors to the resources available to them. Through focus groups with veterans of the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) conflicts (N = 30) we sought to understand the current post-deployment diffi...

The first 6 months of marriage are optimal for marriage enrichment interventions. The Hope-Focused Approach to couple enrichment was presented as two 9-hr interventions-(a) Handling Our Problems Effectively (HOPE), which emphasized communication and conflict resolution, and (b) Forgiveness and Reconciliation through Experiencing Empathy (FREE). HOP...

Mental health and help-seeking stigmas are widely recognized as significant barriers to seeking and adhering to treatment. However, the religious mental health stigma that emerges from some religious beliefs is potentially an additional barrier. We conducted a critical review of the literature pertaining to religious beliefs that might affect help-...

This article explores the issues involved in addressing religion and spirituality (R/S) in nonthematic group psychotherapy through a case study of a process-oriented group for adults. The group, which occurred within a psychology-department-affiliated clinic, consisted of 7 community members, 2 coleaders, and 1 process observer. Videos from the fir...

Religion is a diversity factor that comprises a significant component of identity for many clients. However, little attention has been paid to religion in the context of group counseling, especially process-oriented, nonthemed groups with heterogeneous membership. Using multicultural, process-oriented, and social justice theories of groups, we demo...

The main purpose of this study was to examine client-rated appropriateness and preferences regarding the discussion of religious and spiritual concerns in group counseling. Participants were 164 group clients at nine university counseling centers nationwide. Clients volunteered to complete an online questionnaire about their experiences and opinion...

The main purpose of the present study was to explore client beliefs and preferences regarding the discussion of religious and spiritual issues in group counseling. We collected and described both quantitative and qualitative data. One major finding of this study was that on average the majority (85%) of clients at a university counseling center (N...

Two established but disparate lines of research exist: studies examining the self-stigma associated with mental illness and studies examining the self-stigma associated with seeking psychological help. Whereas some researchers have implicitly treated these 2 constructs as synonymous, others have made the argument that they are theoretically and emp...

Fifty-four counselors at 9 university counseling centers participated in a study regarding religion and spirituality (R/S) in group counseling. The majority indicated that R/S is an appropriate topic for group counseling and that some religious and spiritual interventions are appropriate to use. However, counselors rarely use these interventions. C...

Abstract The current study examined therapist characteristics that are related to the use of spiritual and religious interventions in group therapy and to perceived barriers to attending to spirituality in group therapy among a sample of experienced group therapists. Results demonstrated that greater therapist spirituality was associated with more...

One common form of stress and trauma is the pain associated with interpersonal offenses, betrayals, and hurts. Forgiveness in the face of significant interpersonal injuries is not easy, but forgiveness is an adaptive and resilient response to such trauma. A growing research literature on interventions to promote forgiveness for past hurts indicates...

Two established but disparate lines of research exist: studies examining the self-stigma associated with mental illness and studies examining the self-stigma associated with seeking psychological help. Whereas some researchers have implicitly treated these 2 constructs as synonymous, others have made the argument that they are theoretically and emp...

Researchers have found that the stigma associated with seeking therapy-particularly self-stigma-can inhibit the use of psychological services. Yet, most of the research on self-stigma has been conducted in the United States. This is a considerable limitation, as the role of self-stigma in the help-seeking process may vary across cultural groups. Ho...

Stigma is considered an important barrier to seeking mental health services. Two types of stigma exist: public stigma and self-stigma. Theoretically, it has been argued that public stigma leads to the development of self-stigma. However, the empirical support for this assertion is limited to cross-sectional data. Therefore, the goal of this researc...

Researchers have developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a variety of positive psychology interventions. Unlike traditional clinical interventions that focus on the alleviation of psychopathology, positive psychology interventions are concerned with the development of human strengths and virtues. Although many of the virtues promoted in positi...

This study examined whether attachment to God moderated the relation between perceived stress and well‐being (i.e., life satisfaction and positive affect) among 183 Chinese Christian international students and immigrants. Results showed significant main effects of (a) perceived stress on life satisfaction and (b) secure attachment to God and avoida...

This research developed and tested the Military Stigma Scale (MSS), a 26-item scale, designed to measure public and self-stigma, two theorized core components of mental health stigma. The sample comprised 1,038 active duty soldiers recruited from a large Army installation. Soldiers' mean age was 26.7 (standard deviation = 5.9) years, and 93.6% were...

Although consensus is building that religion and spirituality are important aspects of individual counseling, there has been little exploration of these topics in group counseling. The current online questionnaire study provided a description of how 242 experienced group counselors approach religion and spirituality in group counseling. Interventio...

We built upon previous laboratory studies by examining the independent and interactive effects of restitution and apology on behavioral and self-reported measures relevant to forgiveness. Undergraduates (N = 155) received two of 10 tickets in a distribution. Some thought another participant was the distributor; others thought it was random. Later,...

This study assesses the effectiveness of repeated exposures to a video inter-vention based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model. The video was designed to increase help-seeking attitudes and perceptions of peer norms and to decrease the stigma associated with seeking counseling. Participants were 290 undergraduates who were randomly assigned to a re...

This study evaluated a 1-day workshop combined with postintervention journal writing designed to help divorced parents forgive their ex-spouse. Participants (N = 99) were randomly assigned to a workshop with gratitude journal condition (WG), the same workshop with daily events journal condition (WDE), or a wait-list comparison condition (WAIT). Par...

How do religious people think about and make use of forgiveness in their lives? Do religious beliefs promote forgiveness, and if so, how? Through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with religious individuals (N = 10), we explored the ways religious people think about forgiveness and make use of forgiveness to deal with hurtful experiences....

combat exposure is a consistent predictor of posttraumatic stress (PTS). Understanding factors that might buffer the effects of combat exposure is crucial for helping service members weather the stress of war. In a study of U.S. Ma-rines returning from Iraq, hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that unit cohesion and combat exposure p...

When people experience interpersonal hurts, offenses, or victimization, negative consequences can result including embitterment, rumination about the offense, and even symptoms of depression and anxiety. One way of overcoming these negative consequences is to work toward forgiving the offending party. Recently, researchers and clinicians have becom...

This study examined the relationship between self-stigma, anticipated risks and benefits associated with seeking counseling, and attitudes toward seeking counseling among college students with disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. The results of hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that self-stigma and the anticipated risks and benefi...

Public and self-stigmas have been implicated as factors in the underutilization of individual counseling. However, group counseling is also underutilized, and yet scholars know very little about the role of different types of stigma on attitudes toward seeking group counseling. Therefore, the current study examined the relationships between public...

The present study is a two-year follow-up to an outcome study conducted by Wade and Meyer (2009) in 2004–05, in which participants were randomly assigned to an explicit forgiveness treatment, a processed-oriented treatment, and a wait list. The effectiveness of both treatments was maintained after two years. Participants' revenge ideation and psych...

Psychological and clinical research on forgiveness has grown exponentially over the last two decades. Recognizing that counselors might be able to help clients not only reduce the negative in their lives but also promote the positive, researchers and clinicians have addressed ways that forgiveness might be promoted after interpersonal hurts and inj...

This study evaluated the effect of a forgiveness counseling intervention with 146 Arab adolescents in Israel. Students from seven classrooms and schools participated in an experimental intervention study in which half of each class was randomly assigned to a forgiveness-promoting program while the other half remained in class for a social discussio...

Helping clients come to terms with past hurts such as sexual, physical, or verbal abuse is often an important goal of therapy. Research suggests that specific treatments to help people forgive their offenders can be effective. However, these treatments have not been systematically compared with other treatments that are typically offered in real-wo...

Forgiveness interventions can help people forgive past offenses. However, few studies have compared forgiveness interventions with genuine alternative treatments. The authors compared forgiveness interventions with a therapeutic alternative treatment. Participants reduced unforgiveness and increased forgiveness regardless of treatment condition. Tr...

Fear of being stigmatized is the most cited reason why individuals avoid psychotherapy. Conceptually, this fear should be strongest when individuals consider the reactions of those they interact with. Across 5 samples, the authors developed the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Help (PSOSH) scale. In Sample 1 ( N = 985), the 5 ite...

The role of religion and spirituality in psychotherapy has received growing attention in the last two decades, with a focus on understanding the ways that religion and spirituality relate to therapists, clients, and treatment methods. The authors reviewed recent empirical research on religion and spirituality in psychotherapy to inform practitioner...

The fear of being stigmatized by others often leads people to avoid professional help. This stigma can also be internalized, further reducing the likelihood of seeking help. Understanding these different forms of stigma can help psychologists target interventions at different levels to help people overcome the barriers to seeking help. (PsycINFO Da...

The tendency to ruminate has been consistently linked to psychological disturbances, such as increased stress, anger, and fear in response to provocations. However, existing measures of rumination focus on the disposition to ruminate rather than on rumination about a specific situation. This limits the ability to explore rumination about a specific...

The tendency to avoid expressing unpleasant emotions can be a barrier to seeking mental health services. This investigation (N = 295) used Structural Equation Mod- eling to examine psychological distress and anticipated risks and benefits of dis- closing emotions to a therapist as mediators of the relationship between the tendency to express emotio...

A new area in psychotherapy practice and research has arisen addressing therapeutic interventions to explicitly promote forgiveness. There is wide variation in the response to this new area including enthusiastic acceptance, wary openness, and vigorous opposition. Unfortunately, these reactions are not often based on a thorough understanding of the...

Although a central value of Christianity is forgiveness, previous research is mixed on whether commitment to and affiliation with Christianity is related to the ability to forgive specific offenders. This relationship might be particularly salient in situations where people are seeking treatment to overcome past offenses. Therefore, we analyzed arc...