Asking for forgiveness puts the power back in the hands of the one who can show mercy.
I think that's the biggest fear for most when it comes to apologizing.
In some sense I think that's why compassion is so carefully modeled in therapy.
The therapist, at least in some way, is working for the benefit of a healing for all the people involved.
They know confrontations are a reality. To help foster healing for the person in therapy...a preservation of base relationships means that offering the option for compassion facilitates that preservation.
Therefore, compassion is modeled.
I guess that's what it means to forgive.
To Give compassion be-Fore it is asked for.
Fore Give.

As with anything else it is easier said than done.