Following is a partial listing of the influences and accomplishments that highlight my work.
- Certification, Level II Mindfulness Curriculum Training with Mindful Schools (2012)
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 8-week training with Lindsay Bridges, MD, Charlotte Mindfulness Living (2012)
- Vice Chair and dharma teacher, Insight Meditation Community of Charlotte (2011)
- Student of the 2 ½ year Dedicated Practitioner Program (DPP4), Spirit Rock Meditation Center (2011-Present)
- Author, The Emotional Wisdom Cards (Sacred Spaces Press 2010)
- Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology with Dan Siegel, Mindsight Institute (2010)
- POWA Transmission with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, Ligmincha Institute, VA (2009)
- Initiation in The Ancient Art of Cowrie Shell Divination with Mbali, Medicine Woman and master student of Malidoma Some, who brought the Dagara traditions of Burkino Faso, West Africa to the US (2008)
- Progressive Stages on Emptiness meditation and training series with Venerable Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche (2008)
- O Magazine Nugget “Get Over It” (July 2007)
- Author, audio CD Soothing the Inner Flames of Rage–Meditations that Educate the Heart & Transform the Mind (Sacred Spaces Press 2007)
- Family Constellations yearlong training with The Hellinger Institute (2007)
- Received Dzogchen transmission from Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche linage holder Cecile Mchardy (2006)
- Annual teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, New York Insight, Insight Meditation Community-DC, and East Bay Meditation Center (2006 – Present)
- Four Foundations of Mindfulness training with Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (2006)
- Trained with anthropologist and shaman Angeles Arrien, authors Byron Katie and Joanna Macy, and Tsultrim Allione (2005)
- Author, Healing Rage—Women Making Inner Peace Possible(Penguin 2007)
- Landmark Leadership Forum training, CA (2004)
- Home Exchange Writing Retreat, Aarhus, Denmark (2003 – 6 months)
- Shambhala teachings in: Chogyam Truungpa Rinpoche’s Spiritual Materialism with Acharya Gaylon Ferguson (2004), Shantideva–Way of the Bodhisattva with Pema Chodron (2004), Five Wisdom Energies training with Irini Rockwell (2004)
- Student of master storyteller and mythologist Michael Meade, Mosaic Voices, CA (2001-Present)
- Advisory Board Member, Hope Springs Institute, OH, 2003 – Present
- President, Sacred Spaces Press (2002-Present)
- Trance Dance study with contemporary shaman Alex Wilbur, CA (2001)
- Studies and initiations with West African Yoruba Chief Luisah Teish (2001-2006).
- Finalist of the Social Justice Sabbatical Fund, Vanguard Public Foundation (2001)
- Grief Rituals & Sacred Sexuality trainings with Sobonfu Some, CA (2000)
- Study Tour of Condomble Afro-Brazilian Religion led by indigenous shamans, including initiations in Espiritus Society. Certified in Massagem Espiritual (Portuguese for Spiritual Massage) with shaman and Espiritus healer Angela Moraes, Brazil (1998)
- Study Tour of Afro-Cuban Santeria Religion including the study of sacred percussion and dance with master drummer Carolyn Brandy, Cuba (1998)
- Traumatic Experiencing intensive training with Peter Levine (1998)
- Sacred initiations with Rev. Marquerite E. Bolden, D.D., Shaman and master teacher of metaphysics, mysticism, meditation and yoga, blending Hindu, African, and North American Indian spiritual traditions (1998-2001)
- The Art of Living Course and ongoing Sudarshan Kriya breath meditation with founder of Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (1997)
- Sacred tour of Egypt with alchemist and shaman Nicki Scully (1997)
- Re-Evaluation Counseling Training, Berkeley, CA (1995-l998)
- Led diversity awareness study tours to Egypt, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal (1994-1998)
- Advanced Human Interaction/Weir Labs, National Training Lab Institute, ME (1993-1999)
- Long-term student of Vipassana Meditation with Jack Kornfield and Spirit Rock Meditation Community including annual month-long silent retreats, CA (1998 – Present)
- Fourth World Conference of Women in Beijing, presented Generational Healing retreat, China (1995)
- Received Rosen Method body work from master clinician Catherine LaRoche, CA (1992-1995)
- South India study tour of the the great temple cities, the stories of textiles, ancient health systems, and classical dance with Alexandra Merrill, educator and master of feminine systems of meaning (1995) ~ also had a chance encounter with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Collaborative Organization Design Certification, Gelinas James, CA (1994)
- Creator of Celebration of Rage retreat (1994)
- Founder of Bridges, Branches & Braids—a coaching and training organization transforming negative emotions into positive fuel, CA (1994)
- Masters in Clinical Psychology, John F. Kennedy University, CA, 1993
- Corporate and Personal Empowerment Training Certification, Peter Block and the late Joseph Henning, CA (1992)
- Advanced training in NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programing), NTL University, Santa Cruz, CA (1992)
- Corporate Training Manager and Senior Organization Development Consultant, Levi Strauss & Company, CA (1989-1993)
- Annual teacher with Essence on Tour (estimated 1987-92)
- Advanced Tavistock Clinical Training, the late Gloria Thompson & Associates, CA (1989)
- Myers-Briggs Training Certification, Otto Kroeger Associates, CA (1989)
- Transitions Management Certification, William Bridges & Associates, CA (1986)
- Senior Organization Development Consultant, Intel Corporation, CA (1985-1989)
- Masters (coursework) in Organizational Development, Pepperdine University, CA (1985)
- Corporate Training Specialist, TRW Corporation, CA (1982-1985)
