Dr. Paul Hegstrom, Founder of Life Skills, was an abusive husband and father. Paul lived the first forty years of his life without understanding why his behavior was reactive and his anger so fierce. He could not communicate or identify his feelings. Paul knew that something was wrong, but still lived in denial. His counselors had all the labels, but Paul needed more; he needed SKILLS to CHANGE his destructive behavior.

Without the help he needed, his marriage of sixteen years ended, but the abuse continued in subsequent relationships. In 1982, a life-threatening event occurred and forced Paul to ask for help, knowing that he could face 15 to 20 years for attempted murder.

Through a domestic violence group, Paul found some answers, but not the understanding that drove his search. Why did he hurt the ones he loved? Why did he behave the way he did? Why did he have so much anger and rage inside? Paul began searching for those answers on his own and has spent over 18,000 hours in research and over 30,000 hours personally facilitating groups for victims and perpetrators of abuse. Go back...