Eileen Borris-Dunchunstang

Although I am a native New Yorker and have lived in different places on the East Coast I now live in Paradise Valley, Arizona with my Tibetan husband, one giant dog and three fun loving cats! I am a licensed clinical psychologist, political psychologist and educator/trainer. I divide my time between a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona where I work with people who are having relationship or marital difficulties, want to learn how to forgive, or are dealing with illnesses such as cancer, and in Washington DC where I am the Director of Training for the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy in Washington DC. As Director of Training I work in areas of conflict around the world developing conflict resolution training programs with ethnic and regional groups in conflict incorporating forgiveness and reconciliation processes within the broader context of conflict resolution. I have been working extensively in this field for over 20 years designing and implementing programs in international conflict resolution, negotiation, dialogue and peacebuilding including processes of forgiveness, trauma healing and reconciliation. I have worked with Indian and Pakistani Kashmiri's and the Tibetan Government in Exile and have traveled to Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Middle East, Indonesia, and Tbilisi, Georgia. I have also worked for USAID and UNIFEM.

Because I feel so passionate about the power of forgiveness I became a professional speaker and have presented at many national and international conferences including the DPI/NGO conference at the United Nations covering topics in forgiveness and reconciliation, and the importance of healing wounds of the past as part of the work of conflict resolution. I am the author of, 'Forgiveness the Ultimate Freedom' published in six countries and 'Finding Forgiveness: A Seven Step Program for Letting-Go of Anger and Bitterness' published by McGraw-Hill.

Since 1995 I have been teaching courses in conflict resolution including forgiveness and reconciliation processes in emerging democracies, negotiation, international corporate diplomacy, cross cultural communication and multi-track diplomacy. I have taught in the International Studies Department at Thunderbird: The Garvin School of International Management, the Peacebuilding and Development Institute at American University and at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.

In the mid 1990's I joined the Executive Committee of Division 48 - The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence: Peace Psychology division of the American Psychological Association (APA) and was elected to serve on the Committee for International Relations in Psychology (CIRP) for APA. I am now a former past president of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence of the American Psychological Association.

I received my doctorate in psychology from Columbia University (1985), a certificate of advanced studies in Communicative Sciences from Johns Hopkins University (1980), and a master's degree from Columbia University (1972). I am a member of the International Society for Political Psychology, Psychologist for Social Responsibility, American Psychological Association - Peace Psychology Division, IONS and the Association for Humanistic Psychology