Fred Luskin

Dr. Fred Luskin holds a Ph.D. in Counseling and Health Psychology from Stanford University. He is the Co-Director of the Stanford-Northern Ireland HOPE Project, an ongoing series of workshops and research projects that investigate the effectiveness of his forgiveness methods on the victims of political violence. He served as the Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project, the largest research project to date on the training and measurement of a forgiveness intervention. He currently works as a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Center on Conflict and Negotiation. Dr. Luskin presents lectures, workshops, seminars and trainings throughout the United States on the importance, health benefits and training of forgiveness. He offers classes and presentations that range from one hour to five weeks. Dr Luskin is on the Board of Directors of the Open to Hope Foundation. He is the bereaved parent of Anna, 20. Dr. Luskin appeared on the radio show Healing the Grieving Heart to discuss Loss, Forgiveness, and the Military. To hear his interview with Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley, go to the following link: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/36356/hope-and-healing-after-loss

Articles:

Fred Luskin: The Importance of Forgiveness in Grief

Dr. Fred Luskin talks with Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley about forgiveness, and how necessary it is for healing. Depending on the circumstances surrounding a death, forgiveness can seem impossible […]

Forgiveness as Healing

Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley talk about forgiveness with Dr. Fred Luskin in this episode of the Open to Hope show. Author and victims advocate Radha Stern also joins the […]

Daughter Resents Mother’s Happiness After Death of Father

Sasha writes in: My father passed away three years ago following a stroke. I loved him very much but I have never gotten on with my mother. My sister told […]

How Can I Let Go of Anger After the Death of a Child?

Question from Jay: My son Josh died July 12, 2008, from a drug overdose. The person who sold him the drug was his girlfriend’s mother. The police did an investigation […]

Forgive Because There’s No Other Choice

Donna writes in: It’s been 7 months since my beautiful little boy was tragically run over by his father’s pickup truck.? I have been to a therapist since, I’m in EMDR therapy since witnessing the trauma that followed, I take medication to ease my emotions.? But yet, there is no friend, family or therapist who can help me ease my anger?and stop blaming my husband for this accident.?

Nine Steps to Self-Forgiveness

By Fred Luskin, PhD — 1. Know exactly how you feel about what you did. Be able to articulate the specific wrong you have committed and the harm it caused. […]

Four Stages of Forgiveness

The full process of forgiveness is a liberating experience. One that if practiced smartly can lead to a terrific life experience. Interestingly, forgiveness can only occur because we have been given the gift of the ability to make choices. We have the choice to forgive or not to forgive and no one can force us to do either. Conversely, if we want to forgive someone no one can stop us no matter how poorly they may act. This ability to forgive is a manifestation of the personal control we have over our lives. It is nice to reflect upon and feel the respect that we have been given to be able to make such profound choices.

Compellingly, the option to forgive also implies that we had discretion as to whether or not we took offense in the first place. While forgiving may be a difficult enough choice for many of us, imagine how our lives would be if we rarely or never used our power of choice to take offense. Since we have choice, wouldn’t it make sense to limit the amount of times we are hurt or offended so that the need to forgive rarely if ever arises? The ability to live life without taking offense, without giving blame, and by offering forgiveness are choices that offer a life of great peace.

Forgive for Good: The Four Stages of Forgiveness

Writer Frederic Luskin believes we can make the choice to forgive — and to take offense in the first place

Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.