Why is this my passion? Because I have seen so much positive change in people’s lives who have practiced the methods of forgiveness that I teach.
I also, have benefited from forgiving. I was raised by two physically abusive parents who were also emotionally unavailable due to their Scandinavian stoicism. As a result, I became an angry, rageful, defiant young man. I got married and continued the cycle of physical abuse of our own children. I was also becoming an alcoholic. I entered therapy and for three years worked on my issues with EMDR therapy, but I was still angry. I finally learned how to forgive and my anger was healed. I was able to forgive my parents and I came to believe that my own children could forgive me for hurting them.
During this time, I was also attending the Graduate School of Addiction Studies at Hazelden in Center City, MN. I graduated with a Masters degree and then worked in several addiction counseling businesses. In working with addicts and alcoholics, I began to see the devastating effects of carrying resentments from all types of abuse. I would sporadically ask them to try forgiveness and almost without exception, they would experience tremendous amounts of healing in a short time.
One of the clients asked me to put the process down in writing so that he could help his friends to find healing. So, I wrote my first book, Opening The Door To Freedom With Forgiveness Therapy.
The workbook has already helped hundreds of people find healing from their resentments. My hope and mission in life it that this workbook will eventually help millions of people find healing.
Peace and Love, Wayne Kauppila
