Non-Dual &
Mindfulness-Based Therapy

What is Non-dual Psychology?

Non-dual psychology explores how our relationship to experience and sense of self creates suffering. Drawing from contemplative traditions including Advaita Vedanta, this approach uses awareness practices, self-inquiry, and meditation to address the nature of consciousness and identity itself.

This is particularly valuable in trauma work, where our sense of self often becomes fragmented or rigid as a protective response. Rather than just learning to manage difficult emotions, we investigate the deeper patterns of thought and belief that keep us stuck—and explore the possibility of relating to experience in a fundamentally different way.

At its core, this approach makes a radical assumption: that beneath the layers of protection, reactivity, and conditioning, you are fundamentally whole. Not broken, not damaged—just temporarily disconnected from your essential nature.

(You don't have to believe this yet. That's okay.)

The Practice of Remembering

The contemplative practices that inform this work—what's often called "mindfulness"—come from the ancient Pali word Sati, which actually means "that which is remembered." So these are really remembering practices: remembering to come back to this moment, remembering your true nature, remembering that you are not your thoughts or emotions.

This becomes especially powerful when you feel controlled by your reactions, with little sense of agency over your emotions or behaviors. These practices create space between what happens to you and how you respond—and in that space, real choice becomes possible.

How does this work in therapy?

Non-dual and mindfulness-based approaches teach you practical skills you can use in everyday life to work with difficult thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Rather than trying to stop or fix these experiences, you learn to relate to them in a different way—investigating who or what is actually experiencing them.

We explore questions like:

• What is the nature of the "I" that feels anxious, depressed, or traumatized?

• How do our identifications create suffering?

• What happens when we turn awareness back on itself?

• Can we find a place of witnessing that isn't caught in the story?

These approaches are particularly helpful for people dealing with:

• Anxiety and panic

• Depression and emotional overwhelm

• Addiction and compulsive behaviors

• PTSD and complex trauma

• Eating disorders and body image struggles

• Chronic stress and burnout

• Existential questions about identity and meaning

The practices help create a small but crucial pause between a trigger in your environment and your internal emotional response. While the changes might feel slow at first, these practices are sneakily powerful. They're essential for building a sense of safety within yourself and developing the ability to self-regulate during difficult times—skills that may have been missed due to adverse childhood experiences.

What does this look like in practice?

In our sessions, this work isn't about sitting in perfect meditation posture (though that's certainly an option). Instead, it's about cultivating moment-to-moment awareness of what's happening in your body, mind, and heart right now—and investigating the nature of the one who is aware.

We might practice:

• Noticing thoughts without getting swept away by them

• Feeling emotions in your body without being overwhelmed

• Using breath and body awareness as anchors when you feel activated

• Self-inquiry practices that investigate the sense of "I"

• Exploring the difference between awareness and the contents of awareness

• Developing compassionate curiosity toward your inner experience

• Learning to be present with discomfort without immediately trying to escape it

The goal isn't to become a "good meditator" or to achieve some special state—it's to recognize what's already here, to develop a different relationship with your inner life, one that's kinder, less reactive, and more spacious.

Getting started

For those interested in deepening your practice, but not quite ready for therapy, I've compiled a list of my favorite meditation centers on my resources page. Many offer both in-person and remote group classes and retreats.

Remember: this work isn't about having a quiet mind or feeling peaceful all the time. It's about developing the capacity to be present with whatever is happening—including the messy, uncomfortable, very human parts of life—while investigating the deeper nature of who you are.

Who can benefit from non-dual & mindfulness-based approaches?

This approach can be helpful if you:

• Feel overwhelmed by your emotions or thoughts

• Struggle with anxiety, worry, or racing mind

• Want to break free from reactive patterns

• Feel disconnected from your body or present moment

• Are dealing with trauma but need gentle, gradual approaches

• Want to develop more self-compassion and inner kindness

• Feel stuck in cycles of self-criticism or judgment

• Are interested in spiritual or contemplative approaches to healing

• Want practical tools you can use outside of therapy sessions

• Are curious about the nature of self and consciousness

• Feel fragmented or struggle with identity issues

• Want to explore deeper existential or philosophical questions

The beauty of this work is that it meets you wherever you are—no prior experience necessary.