Stop Struggling Alone - Learn Real Meditation Skills
"Life is difficult. These were the first words of the Buddha. But he didn't stop there—he taught a comprehensive path to suffer less and love more."
If you are just setting out on your meditation journey, consider some private guidance at the start to help yourself succeed and also to avoid many pitfalls and disappointments that are unnecessary.
Making meditation a central thread in your life is perhaps one of the most wise and essential things a person can do. It is also very difficult! There are many obstacles that emerge as one begins to turn inward, and people commonly give up. Learning meditation from apps or books may provide a starting point, some management of stress and a taste of emotional well being, however the human mind is amazingly complex and the suffering and confusion that one encounters at the beginning is daunting. Since the time of the Buddha there is an unbroken lineage of people helping others along the path. Teacher to student, the practical and ancient teachings are passed on within the context of a caring, compassionate and wise relationship.
I had the privilege of receiving the support and guidance of Ruth Denison for more than forty years. I have had other important teachers as well, sometimes for years. In addition I have had deep long-term relationships with several masterful therapists. These have all been invaluable.
Of course the school of life also has profound and life-transforming lessons to teach. I have experienced great joys and sorrows in my lifetime. I have been very successful and had some profound failures. During this last year I have experienced great loss and tragedy that pushed me deeper into meditation practice than I had previously known to be possible. The dharma has been my refuge and guide, and I am emerging with a tender heart and faith that we can survive and make use of life’s most profound challenges to support our awakening,
In my professional work as a therapist and my calling as a Dharma teacher I have evolved a synthesis of Buddhist Meditation and western psychotherapy. I have helped many hundreds of people to overcome the wounds of their childhood and to integrate the traumas and great losses they have experienced in life. They have gone on to deepen their spiritual practice, open into love and happiness and to make their contributions to life.
I had the privilege of receiving the support and guidance of Ruth Denison for more than forty years. I have had other important teachers as well, sometimes for years. In addition I have had deep long-term relationships with several masterful therapists. These have all been invaluable.
Of course the school of life also has profound and life-transforming lessons to teach. I have experienced great joys and sorrows in my lifetime. I have been very successful and had some profound failures. During this last year I have experienced great loss and tragedy that pushed me deeper into meditation practice than I had previously known to be possible. The dharma has been my refuge and guide, and I am emerging with a tender heart and faith that we can survive and make use of life’s most profound challenges to support our awakening,
In my professional work as a therapist and my calling as a Dharma teacher I have evolved a synthesis of Buddhist Meditation and western psychotherapy. I have helped many hundreds of people to overcome the wounds of their childhood and to integrate the traumas and great losses they have experienced in life. They have gone on to deepen their spiritual practice, open into love and happiness and to make their contributions to life.
Have You Tried Meditation and Given Up?
Or do you maintain a half-hearted and unsatisfying practice that does not provide the relief you are seeking?
You're not alone. Establishing a meditation practice brings us face to face with life’s most challenging aspects. To cease avoiding the suffering in our lives and to choose the path to awakening requires an act of great courage. It is only when we can no longer deny the realities of our lives that we sincerely turn to meditation. Do any of the following statements ring true with you?
- Chronic anxiety about life's uncertainty—aging, death, climate change, your children's futures.
- Spiritual emptiness despite success—you've checked all the boxes but wake up feeling hollow, or just emotionally flat, wondering if this is all there is to your life.
- Stuck in survival mode—constantly stressed, always anticipating another bad outcome, rather than fully inhabiting your daily living.
- Grief that won't transform or relationship patterns that keep repeating.
- Previous meditation attempts that felt too difficult, confusing, or ineffective.
- Overwhelmed by Major life changes (divorce, death of loved one, career transition, health challenges).
- Addictions and compulsions that you know are harming you.
- Depression and Self-Hatred that make life feel hopeless.
"Beyond personal counsel, Robert has introduced me to a variety of practices that nourish the soul. From meditation and mindful breathing to journaling and acts of service, these tools have become integral to my daily routine. Each practice, thoughtfully integrated into my life, has opened new dimensions of awareness and joy.
What sets Robert apart is his understanding that spirituality is deeply personal. He never imposes beliefs or practices but instead invites exploration and adaptation. This respect for individual paths has allowed me to deepen my own sense of connection—to myself, to others, and to the world around me." - Eric Leagjeld
What sets Robert apart is his understanding that spirituality is deeply personal. He never imposes beliefs or practices but instead invites exploration and adaptation. This respect for individual paths has allowed me to deepen my own sense of connection—to myself, to others, and to the world around me." - Eric Leagjeld
My Approach: Life-Affirming Buddhism That Actually Works
Unlike approaches that encourage withdrawal from life's complexities, I can guide you toward deeper engagement with everything existence offers. Your emotions, relationships, creativity, and struggles aren't obstacles—they're the ground where awakening happens.
I create an individualized program utilizing the Eightfold Path to help you make every daily activity more conscious and satisfying.
I create an individualized program utilizing the Eightfold Path to help you make every daily activity more conscious and satisfying.
What Individual Training Includes
Personalized Assessment and Program
Addressing Real Obstacles
Practical Life Integrations
Ongoing Support System
- Initial evaluation of your meditation and inner life journey
- Developmental meditation exercises designed for you
- Custom meditation journal with gratitude practices.
- Foundational reading to answer questions before they arise.
Support in developing a regular daily practice. - Recorded guided meditations that are specific to your personal needs. These can be used daily or as needed to focus your practice.
Addressing Real Obstacles
- Addressing physical and emotional pain, anxiety, depression.
- Trauma-sensitive mindfulness for old emotional injuries.
- Breaking repetitive thought and emotion patterns.
- Integration of Four Noble Truths and impermanence.
Practical Life Integrations
- Bringing meditation into relationships and work.
- Compassionate communication during conflict.
- Finding meaning in ordinary responsibilities.
- Balancing self-care with caring for others.
Ongoing Support System
- 7 AM weekday morning online drop in group - morning meditation.
- 7 PM Thursday evening sessions will begin after the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Classes beginning in September.
- Additional classes and week-long retreats
- One Day Forest Retreat September 6.
- Long-term mentorship as life changes.
"Robert has been my spiritual coach, and our regular sessions discussing life and the dharma have brought me immense benefit. He is one of the most relatable and wise individuals I've encountered, possessing an uncanny ability to share the perfect story and lesson for every question. I am profoundly grateful for his wisdom, which continues to shape my spiritual journey in significant ways." - Joshua Russell MD
Training Structure
I'm available for one-time consultations. However, if you're serious about really establishing a practice and benefiting from meditation. I recommend planning on 5 - 10 sessions to build a solid foundation, then designing an ongoing program specifically for you.
Format: 55-minute sessions via video or in-person.
Investment: $150 per session. I am committed to the Buddhist practice of dana (generosity) If this cost is prohibitive and you sincerely want to go deeper in your life, please contact me.
Free Consultation: 20-minute initial conversation.
Format: 55-minute sessions via video or in-person.
Investment: $150 per session. I am committed to the Buddhist practice of dana (generosity) If this cost is prohibitive and you sincerely want to go deeper in your life, please contact me.
Free Consultation: 20-minute initial conversation.
Ready to Make Meditation Actually Work?
If you're seeking a path that doesn’t escape humanity but deepens it—one that opens your capacity for love, creativity, and joy—individual guidance can make a profound difference.
I offer 1-on-1 training to help you establish a grounded, lasting meditation practice. We begin with a free 20-minute consultation to explore if we're a good fit.
Having a skilled guide opens many doors to setting yourself free.
I offer 1-on-1 training to help you establish a grounded, lasting meditation practice. We begin with a free 20-minute consultation to explore if we're a good fit.
Having a skilled guide opens many doors to setting yourself free.
Options
Single SessionYou want a focused check-in, guidance on a specific question, or a tune-up for an existing practice. |
Core Training PackageYou’re ready to build a durable meditation habit and get steady support while you integrate it into daily life. |
Not sure which path fits?
Schedule the no-pressure consultation and we'll explore your goals together.
Rooted in the Buddhist principle of dana, no one is turned away for financial reasons.
Rooted in the Buddhist principle of dana, no one is turned away for financial reasons.