Forgiveness therapists in Madison, WI
Browse Forgiveness therapists in Madison, Wisconsin. Compare credentials, specialties and therapeutic approach. Contact a therapist to learn more.
Forgiveness
Melissa Drinkman, Pathways To Connection
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, DBH, LCSW
Pathways To Connection therapists help you work through forgiveness by using a therapeutic approach that helps individuals release resentment, anger, and pain associated with past wrongdoings. It encourages self-reflection and emotional healing by guiding you through the process of understanding your feelings, challenging negative thought patterns, and finding compassion—both for yourself and others. The goal is not to forget or condone the hurtful actions, but to let go of the emotional weight that keeps you trapped in the past.
14 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI (Online Only)
Forgiveness
Heinig Health and Wellness Counseling
Psychologist, Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, M.S. Health Psychology, M.A. Clinical Psychology, PSYPACT Providers
We support individuals in exploring and working through the process of forgiveness as a pathway toward emotional healing, relief, and personal growth. Through a compassionate and evidence-based therapeutic approach, clients are guided in understanding hurt, resentment, and relational pain while developing healthier ways to process and release these experiences. Our work emphasizes self-compassion, emotional clarity, and boundary-setting, helping clients move toward greater peace, acceptance, and improved well-being—at their own pace and in alignment with their values.
7 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI (Online Only)
Forgiveness
Mosaic Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Carrying the weight of resentment, anger, or past hurt can prevent you from fully healing and moving forward. Our forgiveness therapy is designed to help you release the emotional burden of past grievances, whether towards others or yourself. Using a combination of therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and compassionate self-reflection, we guide you through the process of understanding, processing, and ultimately forgiving—freeing you from the pain of holding on to negative emotions. Forgiveness is a powerful tool for emotional and relational healing, and we’re here to help you find peace, closure, and a renewed sense of emotional freedom.
11 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI
Forgiveness
Madison Zimbal
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA counseling intern under supervision
Forgiveness can be one of the most meaningful and also most difficult parts of healing. Many people come to therapy carrying hurt from relationships, family dynamics, betrayal, or past experiences that still feel heavy in the present. I provide a supportive space for children (7+), teens, and women who are struggling with resentment, emotional wounds, or feeling stuck in what has happened to them. In our work together, forgiveness is never rushed or forced. Instead, we gently explore what the pain represents, how it has impacted your thoughts and emotions, and what it might look like to begin loosening the hold it has on your present life. Forgiveness is not about excusing harm or minimizing what happened, it is about creating space for healing, emotional freedom, and peace. For many clients, forgiveness also involves processing grief, setting boundaries, and rebuilding a sense of self after being hurt. I use a compassionate, skills-based approach to help clients regulate emotions, work through painful memories, and move at a pace that feels safe and respectful. For clients who desire it, faith can also be integrated into this process. Christian counseling can offer a framework of grace, healing, and spiritual support, allowing forgiveness to be explored through both emotional and spiritual understanding. My goal is to help clients move toward relief, not by forgetting the past, but by no longer being defined or controlled by it. Healing is possible, and forgiveness can become a pathway toward greater peace, clarity, and emotional freedom.
1 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI
Forgiveness
Dr. Elizabeth Coldren
Psychologist, PSYD, PSYPACT
I work with adults who are carrying pain, anger, guilt, or unfinished emotional business from relationships that have been complicated or hurtful, including their relationship with themselves. Forgiveness is often misunderstood as excusing harm, minimizing what happened, or reconciling with someone who hurt you. In reality, many people come to therapy because they want relief from the internal weight of what happened and from the way they speak to themselves about it, not because they want to repair the relationship or “move on” before they are ready. You may feel torn between what you think you are supposed to feel and what you actually feel, or caught between loyalty, resentment, grief, and self‑protection. You might also feel stuck in self‑blame, replaying past choices and wishing you had done things differently.
People often seek this kind of work after emotional abuse, betrayal, estrangement, family conflict, or long histories of being the one who absorbs more than their share. These experiences can leave you questioning your reactions, doubting your worth, or feeling responsible for keeping the peace even when it costs you. Over time, the pressure to forgive, from others or from yourself, can create even more confusion, shame, and exhaustion.
In our work together, forgiveness is not a requirement or a destination. I am open to whatever feels most honest and supportive for you, whether that eventually includes forgiveness or not. The focus is on self‑forgiveness and inner relief. We explore what happened with clarity and compassion, how it has shaped your sense of self, and what you have been carrying alone. We make space for the parts of you that still feel hurt, protective, angry, or loyal, and the parts that long for softness and rest. The intention is to help you find a steadier, kinder way of relating to your own story, one that feels honest, grounded, and not dictated by pressure from others. If forgiveness, toward yourself or someone else, becomes part of that process, it can emerge naturally from understanding and self‑respect, not obligation.
26 Years Experience
Online in Madison, WI
Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin — one of the top research universities in the country — and serves as Wisconsin's state capital, giving it an unusually high concentration of academics, researchers, and government professionals who collectively represent one of the most therapy-positive demographics in the Midwest. The city's progressive political culture and high rate of higher education strongly correlate with high therapy utilization and acceptance across multiple demographics. UW Health and SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital provide institutional mental health resources, with a well-developed private practice community serving Willy Street, Atwood, and the Near East Side. Madison's growing Latino, Hmong, and East African communities are increasing demand for multilingual and culturally grounded therapists.
Forgiveness therapists in Madison, WI Statistics
Forgiveness therapists in Madison, WI average 16 years of experience and charge around $210 per session. 100% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (65%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (34%), and Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) (34%).
Average years in practice
16 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$210
Accept insurance
38%
Offer sliding scale
42%
Gender ID
| 59% |
Female |
|
| 39% |
Male |
|
| 1% |
Gender Fluid |
|
| 1% |
Non-Binary |
|
Session Type
| 62% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 38% |
Online Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 65% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 34% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 34% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 32% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 31% | Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) |
| 31% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 28% | Existential / Humanistic Therapy |
Ages Served
| 97% | Adult |
| 78% | Young Adult |
| 60% | Senior |
| 45% | Teen |
| 22% | Children |
Client Focus
| 68% | Women |
| 52% | Men |
| 46% | LGBTQ+ |
| 43% | Christian |
| 38% | Military / Veterans |