Functional brain imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study affective touch and pain; neural mechanisms of pleasant touch, deep pressure, and endogenous opioid modulation; massage, osteopathic manipulation, guided imagery, and weighted blanket interventions for pain.
Laura Case, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego. Her research uses functional brain imaging, pharmacology, and sensory and behavioral testing to probe peripheral and central mechanisms of pleasant touch and pain perception. She is PI of an NCCIH R01 on mechanisms of affective touch perception, Co-I on the Neurons_MATTR U24 grant to advance the neuroscience of massage and manual therapies, and PI of a VA MERIT Award on weighted blankets for pain and sleep.
Bio
Laura Case, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego, where she directs the CASE (Case Affective and Somatosensory Experience) Lab. Her lab uses cognitive and affective neuroscience methods to understand how we experience touch as pleasant or painful, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), fMRI, and psychophysical testing to identify the brain areas causally involved in perceiving the affective components of C-tactile touch.
Dr. Case's research has demonstrated a role for endogenous opioids in modulating pleasant touch perception and characterized the pathways involved in affective perception of pressure, as found in hugs and massage. Her current research examines the modulatory effects of affective touch and pressure on perception of acute and chronic pain. She is PI of an NCCIH R01 on mechanisms of affective touch perception, Co-I on the Neurons_MATTR U24 grant to advance the neuroscience of massage and manual therapies, and PI of a VA MERIT Award studying weighted blankets for pain and sleep in Veterans with chronic pain.
Dr. Case is very interested in mechanisms of mind-body and touch-based therapies including massage, OMT, bioenergy healing, and guided imagery, and has a strong desire to contribute to bridging the worlds of research and complementary/integrative health practices. She received her PhD in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Science from UC San Diego and completed postdoctoral training at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), NIH.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week, evidence-based, experiential program that combines cognitive therapy approaches with mindfulness meditation to cultivate present-moment, non-judgmental awareness. MBCT is designed to build resilience and support relapse prevention for recurring patterns of low mood, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Through weekly experiential sessions, participants learn to recognize unhelpful patterns of thinking, relate differently to difficult emotions, and respond to life’s challenges with greater clarity and choice.
Participants are required to meet with the instructor before the program begins. More information will be provided closer to the start date.
What You’ll Learn
Attend to patterns of thought, emotions, and behavior.
Increase awareness of negative states and reduce identification with them.
Build skills to support relapse prevention using mindfulness meditation techniques.
Respond rather than react by strengthening the ability to choose how to meet difficult experiences.
Who Should Participate
This course is designed for individuals who often worry about the future or dwell on the past, experience low mood, or have a history of anxiety and/or depression and want practical tools to support well-being.
Attendance of at least 80% of sessions is required.
Home practice activities are required.
Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the daylong silent retreat.
Note: This course is for personal learning and practice and does not provide facilitator training.
Schedule and Registration
Note: CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants per program. Classes with fewer than 10 registrants will be cancelled and provided a refund. Please be aware of this when making arrangements to attend this program.
Helpful Resources
The Mindful Way Workbook: An 8-Week Program to Free Yourself from Depression and Emotional Distress — John Teasdale, Mark Williams, and Zindel Segal (Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn).
Cassandra Vieten, PhD, is Clinical Professor and Director of the Center for Mindfulness at the Centers for Integrative Health in the Department of Family Medicine at UC San Diego. Her research focuses on mindfulness-based interventions, spirituality and health, and transformative experiences that support emotional well-being.
Helen E. Davis, PhD, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist in group practice who has taught and integrated Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction into her clinical work since 2013. With over two decades of therapeutic experience, she specializes in applying mindfulness to anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotion regulation to support greater well-being.
Continuing Education
Additional $50 fee for CE credits. This must be paid before the program starts and you must attend all sessions to receive the CE certificate.
Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association and Board of Registered Nursing.
Psychologists
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 22.0 CE credit.
California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs
This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 22.0 CE credit.
Nurses
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 26.0 contact hours.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).
An evidence-based 8-week online MBCT program combining mindfulness and cognitive therapy to reduce stress, support emotional balance, and prevent relapse of depression and anxiety.
Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
Articulate key aspects of mindfulness as it relates to coping with negative moods and preventing relapse of depression and anxiety.
Differentiate MBCT from other CBT techniques that may seem similar but function differently in working with negative mood states.
Practice core mindfulness skills to manage symptoms and support relapse prevention of depression and anxiety.
Apply mindfulness and cognitive therapy techniques when managing difficult situations and emotions in personal and professional settings.
Explain potential benefits of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (and mindfulness) to family and friends.
Create a plan to continue and deepen personal mindfulness practice.
Note: This course does not train facilitators; it is for participants wishing to learn MBCT tools for themselves.
Program start date
Program end date
Registration end date
Registration start date
Schedule details
No class on May 28. Includes an all-day session on Sunday, May 17 from 9 AM – 4 PM PT (online).
What would happen if, in moments of shame, you could care for yourself instead of going small, attacking yourself, or shutting down?
8-Week Self-Compassion for Shame: Returning Home to Yourself is a groundbreaking online program developed by Dr. Chris Germer, Natalie Bell, and the SC-Shame development team. The course takes a non-pathological look at shame through the lens of mindful self-compassion and explores why self-compassion is an antidote to shame.
What You’ll Learn
You will build practical resources to meet shame with greater acceptance and authenticity so you can stay connected, think in a balanced way, and make wise, healthy choices. The course weaves together talks, experiential exercises, meditation, and group discussion, alongside theory and research on shame and self-compassion.
Mindfulness of shame
Origins of shame
Self-criticism
Body shame
Self-forgiveness
Hidden parts
Social justice
Who Should Participate
This course is for anyone who has completed the MSC prerequisite and suspects (or recognizes) that shame may be limiting their full potential and wants new resources to open up new ways of living.
SC-Shame is a resource-building program (like MSC), not psychotherapy. Because we will be touching shame with self-compassion, challenging emotions may arise. The teaching team is committed to co-creating a safe and rewarding learning environment with participants.
Program Structure
8 weeks, 28 hours total (20 hours class time plus 8 hours optional practice group)
Weekly classes: 2.5 hours each
Optional practice group: 1 hour weekly, facilitated by SC-Shame teachers
Class size: maximum 30 participants
Online
Free Orientation Session
Join us for a free orientation session as a preview of the upcoming 8-week course starting in April 2026.
Natalie is the founder of Mindful Wellness and a senior certified mindfulness and self-compassion teacher who brings practical tools for calm, clarity, and resilience into everyday life. She leads program development for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, teaches with UCLA’s MARC, co-created major self-compassion trainings (including for healthcare professionals), and works globally with individuals and organizations.
Continuing Education
Certificate of Completion
To be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, you must attend at least 6 of the 8 weekly sessions. After completing the end-of-program survey, please email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu to request your certificate.
CE Certification
CE certification requires an additional $50 fee for CE credits. You must attend all sessions in order to receive the CE certificate.
Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association (APA) and Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
Psychologists
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 20.0 CE credit.
California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs
This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 20.0 CE credit.
Nurses
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 24.0 contact hours.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).
An 8-week online program using mindful self-compassion to understand shame, reduce self-criticism, and build practical resources for greater connection, authenticity, and well-being.
Objectives
At the completion of this program, participants should be able to:
Explain the theory and research on shame and self-compassion.
Describe how self-compassion is an antidote to shame, including the three paradoxes of shame.
Identify personal childhood and cultural disconnections that lead to shame.
Use self-compassion practices to alleviate body shame.
Direct self-compassion toward hidden parts of yourself.
Reduce habitual self-criticism.
Apply new practices to relieve the burden of shame in daily life.
Testimonials
Testimonials
This course did not disappoint. I could not have asked for a better experience. It supported and deepened my own practice, and I hope to bring my learning into my clinical practice.
I learned that I can disempower shame and de-shame shame with my practices and by sharing in these groups. It opens the possibility of befriending shame and the wisdom it can reveal.
I feel understanding and compassion towards myself instead, and even freedom, like permission to do things I could not do before because I was too ashamed.
Because of underlying shame I keep getting out of touch with my own values. I can help myself be aligned with them now as I practice self-compassion. It brings me so much hope for the rest of my life.
I can identify shame more quickly and validate myself more quickly as well. As a result, I spend less time ruminating. I find it easier to offer myself compassion in certain areas of my life.
The whole idea of shame becomes much lighter. I feel less burdened by shame and less fearful of shame. I feel I can see shame with a new kinder, more patient lens.
In today’s world, teens and pre-teens face increasing pressure from technology, academic demands, and major life transitions. These stressors can affect both physical and emotional well-being and make it harder to feel steady, focused, and connected.
This course teaches practical mindfulness skills to help teens navigate change, reduce reactivity, and make healthier choices. Students strengthen attention, emotional regulation, and self-care through guided practice and supportive discussion.
What You’ll Learn
Strengthen focus and attention.
Respond to challenging situations with less emotional reactivity.
Use strategies that support wiser decision-making.
Build kindness and compassion for themselves and others.
Develop practical self-care skills.
The Practice
Gentle stretching and yoga.
Mindful meditation practices to support relaxation and awareness.
Self-reflection through journaling, activities, and group discussion.
Mariana Ampudia is a certified mindfulness instructor for kids and teens with training through the UCSD Center for Mindfulness and experience teaching school-based mindfulness programs and supporting mindful and compassionate parenting workshops.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).
An 8-week online mindfulness course for teens ages 13–17 to build focus, manage stress, and develop practical skills for emotional regulation and self-care.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based, 8-week program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn that helps participants build mindfulness skills to relate differently to stress, health concerns, and everyday challenges.
Through weekly sessions that include guided meditation, mindful movement, and inquiry, participants learn to cultivate greater awareness, compassion, and steadiness. The program supports developing the ability to respond with more choice rather than reacting on autopilot.
Who Should Participate
MBSR is for people experiencing stress or ongoing life challenges who want practical tools to support well-being. Participants often join with concerns such as:
Stress, anxiety, worry, or low mood
Chronic pain or chronic medical conditions
Sleep disturbance
Headaches, hypertension, or grief and loss
Relationship challenges
All-Day Session
As part of the program, participants attend a teacher-led all-day silent retreat (typically between weeks 6 and 7). This is an opportunity to practice what you have been learning—such as sitting meditation, mindful movement, and walking meditation—in a supportive, spacious setting.
Free Orientation Session
Please watch the recording of our MBSR Orientation Session to learn about the origins and evidence-based foundations of MBSR, experience a brief practice, and review the class structure and participation guidelines.
Note: All UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness MBSR graduates are invited to join an upcoming all-day session for free by registering here: Register HERE.
Note: CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants per program. Classes with fewer than 10 registrants will be cancelled and provided a refund. Please be aware of this when making arrangements to attend this program.
Lorraine M. Hobbs, M.A., is Founding Director of the Youth, Family & Education Programs at the UCSD San Diego Center for Mindfulness, a family therapist, and a certified teacher of MBSR, MSC, CCT, and the Humanize Contemplative Dyad program. She is co-author of two books on self-compassion for youth, pioneers mindfulness and self-compassion training globally, and develops innovative curricula including AI-supported emotional strength training for kids.
Continuing Education
Certificate of Completion
To be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, you must attend at least 6 of the 8 weekly sessions. After completing the end-of-program survey, email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu to request your certificate.
CE Certification
CE certification requires an additional $50 fee. You must attend all sessions and the all-day session in order to receive the CE certificate.
Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association (APA) and Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
Psychologists
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 27.0 CE credit.
California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs
This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 27.0 CE credit.
Nurses
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 32.0 contact hours.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).
An evidence-based 8-week MBSR program to help reduce stress and build mindfulness skills through guided practice, discussion, and an all-day silent retreat.
Objectives
At the completion of this program, participants should be able to:
Identify patterns of stress reactivity and recognize moments of “autopilot.”
Practice core mindfulness skills to support present-moment awareness.
Apply mindfulness approaches to relate differently to stress and everyday challenges.
Testimonials
Recent Testimonial
As a wife, mother, full time student, and full time employee, there’s rarely a moment to pause. The MBSR program has given me the rare opportunity to take just a few hours each week to slow down and focus on myself. Practicing mindfulness has been a grounding and much needed reset in the middle of my busy life.
There are moments in everyday life that shape what happens next: how we interpret events, react, and move forward. What if you could recognize those turning points earlier, before stress or reactivity takes over, and use them to return to clarity and calm?
Deeper Mindfulness is an innovative 8-week course that blends mindfulness meditation with neuroscience to explore “feeling tone”: the subtle emotional backdrop that colors experience. Feeling tone can be the tipping point into habitual reactions, and learning to notice it sooner can help you regain balance in a chaotic world.
This course is designed for those who want to deepen their mindfulness practice beyond Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), or other mindfulness-based programs.
What You’ll Learn
Recognize feeling tone and how it influences thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
Strengthen self-regulation during stress and difficult emotions.
Reduce reactivity and respond with greater clarity and intention.
Apply mindfulness skills in everyday personal and professional situations.
Create a sustainable plan to deepen and continue mindfulness practice.
Who Should Participate
This course is for participants seeking to deepen their mindfulness journey after completing MBCT, MBSR, or another mindfulness-based program.
If you cannot attend the first session or expect to miss two sessions, we recommend waiting for the next offering.
This Course Includes
Eight weekly, 2-hour classes that include discussion, meditation, and inquiry.
Home practice: 10–30 minutes of daily guided meditation, plus instructions for everyday mindfulness.
Note: This course is for personal learning and practice and does not provide facilitator training.
Continuing Education
Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association and Board of Registered Nursing. An additional $50 fee applies.
Psychologists
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 16.0 CE credits.
California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs
This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 16.0 CE credits.
Nurses
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 19.0 contact hours.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).
The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (SC-MSC) is a six-week adaptation of the empirically supported eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, designed to introduce the core skills of self-compassion with a reduced time commitment. Developed by Kristin Neff, PhD, a pioneering researcher in self-compassion, and Christopher Germer, PhD, a leader in mindfulness- and compassion-based psychotherapy, SC-MSC offers a focused and accessible entry point into this work.
Most of us readily offer compassion to close friends when they are struggling. SC-MSC invites participants to explore what it might be like to extend that same care and understanding to themselves. Self-compassion involves learning to comfort and soothe ourselves, and to motivate ourselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism, particularly when we experience suffering, failure, or feelings of inadequacy. By recognizing our shared humanity, we learn to include ourselves in the circle of compassion we naturally offer to others.
The program draws on mindfulness skills and emphasizes cultivating self-compassion as a resource for emotional wellbeing. Research increasingly shows that self-compassion is associated with greater emotional resilience, improved coping with life challenges, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthier habits, and more satisfying personal relationships. It is an inner strength that allows us to respond to difficulty with greater clarity, balance, and care.
Self-compassion is a learnable skill, even for those who did not develop these capacities earlier in life. Program activities include short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. Participants will explore habitual responses to difficulty and learn practical tools for becoming a warm and supportive companion to themselves. Meditation experience is not required. This program is open to the general public and welcomes participants of all backgrounds. You must be 18 years or older to enroll.
Note: A minimum of 10 registrants is required to run the program. Programs with fewer than 10 registrants will be cancelled and refunded.
Megan Prager, MA, is the Compassion Programs Director at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness and a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion. She develops and leads mindfulness and compassion-based programs for universities, healthcare systems, and organizations, with a focus on practical, evidence-based applications that support well-being and resilience.
Continuing Education
Continuing education credits are available for an additional $15 fee. Participants must attend all sessions to receive a certificate.
Psychologists: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Center maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 6.0 CE credits.
California-licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and LCSWs: This activity is approved by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied toward license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 6.0 CE credits.
Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 7.0 contact hours.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to the In-Person Programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
The refunds are processed in the same method as the payments were submitted (unless past 180 days).
A 6-week online course introducing the core skills of self-compassion to build emotional resilience, reduce anxiety and self-criticism, and strengthen well-being and relationships.
Helen Hyun-Chung Kim is a Certified MBSR and MBCT teacher and former psychiatrist. She brings deep compassion and clinical insight to her mindfulness teaching, supporting healing, awareness, and self-discovery.
Bio
Helen Hyun-Chung Kim is a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy teacher. In her previous life she was a board-certified psychiatrist in Korea for 15 years, serving underserved communities. During that time she witnessed profound suffering in her patients and felt drawn toward mindfulness and self-compassion as paths toward healing.
With guidance from founding director Dr. Steve Hickman, Helen joined UC San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness, where she studied a range of mindfulness-based programs with many respected teachers. Through this journey she developed a grounded foundation rooted in awareness, acceptance, ease, and compassion.
Helen is committed to sharing what she has learned with others on their own paths of healing and self-discovery, offering a warm, steady presence shaped by both clinical experience and contemplative practice.
Cassandra Vieten, PhD, is Clinical Professor and Director of the Center for Mindfulness at the Centers for Integrative Health in the Department of Family Medicine at UC San Diego. Her research focuses on mindfulness-based interventions, spirituality and health, and transformative experiences that support emotional well-being.
Bio
Cassandra Vieten is Clinical Professor and Director of the Center for Mindfulness at the Centers for Integrative Health in the Department of Family Medicine at UC San Diego. She is also Director of Research at the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination and Clinical Psychology Director at the Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative at UCSD. She is Senior Advisor of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation where she served as Executive Director from 2019-2023, and a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, where she served as President from 2013-2019.
Her research has focused on spirituality and health, transformative experiences and practices, the development of mindfulness-based interventions for emotional well-being, and development of media technologies to inspire awe. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and completed her research training in behavioral genetics at UC San Francisco. She has authored three books, published numerous articles in scientific journals, and is an internationally recognized keynote speaker and workshop leader.
