Kara is a writer, teacher, householder, mother and neighbour exploring the intersections of mindfulness, elderhood, spirituality and health.
Her passion for coaching is rooted in a lifelong love for the magic that happens when something once challenging suddenly becomes effortless and fun. Being present to the unfolding for another’s sense of who they are in the world is one of her greatest pleasures.
As an experienced coach she brings a quality of serene, non-judgemental awareness, enthusiasm and playfulness to a variety of communities and settings.
Kara is highly skilled in supporting individuals navigating depression, anxiety and grief related to trauma, family of origin, illness and end of life. Her clients are seeking to effect positive behaviour change, accelerate high performance goals, and to expand their global sense of happiness and wellbeing – as well as their capacity to be of service to others.
She especially loves helping clients know the powerful impact of integrating informal practice into daily life; working with them find ways by which the particular circumstances of life at any given moment can become doorways to transformation.
In her experience, having a skilled coach has been key to experiencing growth as a meditator and to therefore having a clear sense of purpose, meaning and grace as a citizen of these times.
Kara works exclusively online (text or video) from wherever she finds herself in the world.
Whether you are looking to start a contemplative practice, to extend the impact of an existing practice, or just want to chat about mindfulness, she would love to hear from you.
Julianna received her BA in psychology from Duke University. As founder, president, and head trainer of Unified Mindfulness, she is dedicated to disseminating Shinzen Young’s comprehensive mindfulness meditation system through the creation and presentation of educational programs and teacher-training certification programs.
Dr. Hunter serves as associate professor of practice and is the founding director of the Executive Mind Leadership Institute at the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management, Claremont Graduate University. He also serves as visiting professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, where he developed and co-teaches the Leading Mindfully executive education program..
Dr. Eisendrath serves as chief psychologist and president of the Institute for Dialogue Therapy, P.C., where, as a Jungian analyst, she offers psychotherapy with individuals and couples, psychoanalysis, supervision, and training.
Dr. Vago serves as the research director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and the director of the Contemplative Neuroscience and Integrative Medicine (CNIM) Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Department of Psychiatry.
Stella is a psychologist, professor, and Zen practitioner. She became a formal student in 2008 in the Soto Zen tradition. She teaches courses in mindfulness based psychotherapies and the psychology of compassion at the Union Institute & University. She also co-facilitates a family program and young adult program at Shao Shan Temple, in Woodbury Vermont.
Dr. Creswell serves as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also the director of the Health & Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. McCormick currently serves as director of education at Unified Mindfulness. In 1975, he received a B.A. in psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz, where he was part of Dr. Elliot Aronson’s research team that examined cooperative approaches to reducing interracial conflict and academic performance problems in newly integrated school, and made Honors in Psychology, College Honors, and Thesis Honors.
UnifiedMindfulness.com is the official teacher training platform for Shinzen and the Unified Mindfulness System.
Created over 50 years of research and testing by Shinzen Young, Unified Mindfulness is a system of meditation that’s easily researchable by science, with clear terminology and rigorous precision around concepts and procedures.
The Unified Mindfulness system is a comprehensive, robust and refined support structure that any individual at any stage of meditation practice can rely on to go deeper in their insight and their ability to share it with others. It is also a secular form of meditation, which means it’s not religious in any way so anyone, of any faith, can do it.