[CantExplain]

Someone famously said that therapy is "confession without absolution".

Is it true that therapy offers no absolution?

Is therapy more effective with absolution or without?

Good question. After what I confessed to L on Thursday, while she didn't say I was bad or wrong and acted accepting as usual, I was left with the feeling that I did something wrong that I need to be absolved of because she also insinuated that I am not serious about my process because of it. I'm not mad or upset with her who knows maybe I'm not as serious as I think I am because I'm not willing to sit there in front of her and try to pretend I don't feel, which she basically suggested by saying "we're both adults here." I think I know myself pretty darn well to be able to realize and tell her what I did.

[atisketatasket]

I've been to both Confession and therapy. They're totally different. Therapy doesn't offer absolution to me, validation at best.

Also I think absolution has to be stated formally, which is why it's usually associated with religion, like a pardon is associated with the state. The therapist isn't in either position as god or master, so semantically absolution isn't possible.

[Salmon77]

I'm not religious so I don't believe absolution really exists. Nothing can change the past or make it go away.

What I think is possible, in therapy but through other means too, is that you get a better understanding of what happened and why, you figure out how you feel about it, and you move on.

[stopdog]

I never saw therapy as confession and would never have believed it the place or the within the power of the therapist to absolve.
I left the catholic church a long time ago and have no desire to deal with priests or gods.

[Taylor27]

I have never ever viewed there as a place of confession or to get absolution. I might think differently if i was getting therapy in a church setting

[piggy momma]

My therapist is a priest but I don’t go to him for confession. I did say to him last week that confession is like free therapy, and that therapy is like confession without absolution. He laughed.

Since absolution is a religious rite for Catholics, only a priest can give absolution within the sacrament of penance. Your therapist cannot give absolution.

Interesting question that likely would have never crossed my mind on my own. I am not religious. But even in a generic sense of these terms, therapy involves neither confession nor absolution for me. In fact, I personally found the sometimes too lax apparent perception and feedback from the Ts potentially counterproductive (potentially harmful even if I let it influence my judgment much). I had a serious and potentially life-threatening substance abuse problem and telling me things like it was okay, most people have at least one addiction, recovery usually involves relapses etc were not helpful and constructive suggestions. I generally do much better with realistic, firm, even tough advice. In other areas of life I generally like my own standards and morals (when I am sober) and people in my everyday life often give me both constructive criticism and encouraging feedback, can relate to my challenges etc so I don’t fee deprived of and in need of these things. I would more seek consultation and pragmatic discussion/suggestions from a T to resolve my issues, otherwise I know I am vulnerable and my sins were not horrible things I cannot forgive myself (more regret doing). I imagine the things raised in the OP can be desired by people with chronic, unresolved guilt and shame feelings.

Originally Posted by CantExplain

Someone famously said that therapy is "confession without absolution".

Is it true that therapy offers no absolution?

Is therapy more effective with absolution or without?

Absolution implies there is guilt to be absolved of. Guilt implies wrong doing. I think therapy address the guilt an individual may be feeling by exploring whether or not we have something to be feeling guilty of in the first place. Although I don't sit in other people's therapy sessions, I would imagine most perceive themselves as guilty without warrant. I think a therapist would typically help one understand when we are carrying a distorted view blaming ourselves and feeling guilty for no reason. If there are things we are in fact guilty of, therapy can't provide absolution unless the guilt is associated with something that has occurred within the therapy relationship itself. To be absolved of guilt that we truly own, I think therapy can only go so far as to help us understand the steps we need to take to gain release or absolution. Then it's up to us.

[unaluna]

Nemo is on the right track, imo. But i would bet shame is more commonly the emotion expressed in therapy than guilt. My parents didnt hit me, they verbally shamed me - at every turn.

Absolution goes with forgiveness, right? And they always say you forgive the other person so YOU can have peace, not for the other person's sake. So this just raises the question of being able to forgive one's self. WE have to do it - the therapist is nobody, except that they are a witness.

[CantExplain]

I looked it up. It was G.K. Chesterton who said it.

[stopdog]

He was oddly fascinated with catholicism and priests.

[ArtleyWilkins]

Therapy wasn't about confessing to start with; that implies sin (for me anyway). Doesn't fit for me, not for what I was seeking help with.

I am a person of faith and reserve my confession and absolution to God. (BTW: confession is not just reserved for the Catholic church - just correcting a previous statement by another poster.) My therapist is DEFINITELY not in that role for me (nor would he have EVER let me even toy with that idea; he refused to be put on any sort of pedestal or he would completely deny that kind of power).

[sarahsweets]

I believe that absolution only comes from within. From you. Once you give yourself permission to feel the feelings, overcome the shame and let the past go-you are absolved.