ABSTRACT

Sometimes, a character strength developed as a result of working through adversity is the positive aspect from the past. Clients list gifts from the past and may write thank-you letters to real-life offenders. Clients write “good-bye” or “letting go” letters when they are ready to put closure on their past relationships with real-life offenders. The Maintenance Stage of change involves transforming new behaviors into behaviors that will last over a long period of time. Inner Child Therapy can be supplemented by couples’ therapy or sex therapy to address present-day issues as childhood experiences are resolved and left behind. Shifting back from more affective, here-and-now interventions to cognitive and behavioral strategies accomplishes the transformation.