O perdão na abordagem da terapia dos esquemas para promoção do bem-estar psicológico : um programa de intervenção

Abstract

This research aimed to understand how Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) influence the perception of resentment, the capacity for forgiveness, and the reduction of negative emotions, with the goal of contributing to the development of more effective clinical interventions. The study proposed the construction and evaluation of a program integrating forgiveness therapy with the EMS approach, aiming to verify its effectiveness in improving participants' psychological well-being. The study involved 15 women, divided into three groups: Group 1 (schema therapy), Group 2 (forgiveness therapy), and Group 3 (a combination of both approaches). Each group underwent 10 sessions of 60 minutes, using a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design. Quantitative analyses (non-parametric MANOVA and Wilcoxon test) and qualitative analyses (Descending Hierarchical Classification) were conducted. The quantitative results indicated a significant effect of Time (p = 0.024), but not of Group (p = 0.63) or the Group x Time interaction (p = 0.915). A significant reduction in EMS scores was observed from pre-test to post-test (p = 0.002) and follow-up (p = 0.006), with no significant differences between post-test and follow-up. Qualitative analyses revealed that participants in Group 1 reported improvements in psychological well-being, while those in Group 3 demonstrated a greater understanding of how EMS influence their interpretations and problem-solving strategies, developing more adaptive schemas. It is concluded that the integration of these approaches can support new clinical interventions, offering promising pathways to overcome the limitations of this study. The combination of therapies proved particularly effective in promoting a deeper understanding of emotional and behavioral schematic patterns, as well as facilitating the resolution of internal conflicts.