“As a psychotherapist in training and mindfulness instructor with a focus in the connection between chronic pain and trauma, I found the tools offered in David’s course valuable. David’s informed background, deep seeking and warm authenticity, offered in a constellation of cherry-picked guest speakers, support staff and fellow students, resulted in a course I am most grateful to have participated in. I feel its benefits ripple in my mindfulness and therapy practice, my work as an educator, and also in my own well-being. Not only do they help deliver mindfulness in a way that doesn’t harm but also aid in empowerment, resilience and healing – not just for the individual but a wider societal context.”

“TSM strengthened my ability to teach mindfulness safely and effectively to First Responders. 

My mother was an ER nurse, and my father was a Fire Fighter and Paramedic. They were both badasses and heroes. They worked tirelessly to protect our community. But the negative outcome on their wellbeing and the wellbeing of our family was glaring. Growing up I constantly heard stories of tragedy and heartbreak. I did not experience it first hand, but I saw the impact it had on both my parents. Behind closed doors, our home was filled with depression, violence, PTSD, and exhaustion.  

Through TSM, I’ve been able to serve First Responders even more effectively in my work (which, because of my personal journey, is a passion for me). First Responders are a population that experiences chronic trauma, and they require a special approach focusing on flexibility, safety, support and choice. These attributes must be baked into each training and each meditation. TSM recognizes these needs and teaches Mindfulness with the guiding principle of “First, Do No Harm.” It enables First Responders to normalize their experiences while giving them tools to regulate stressors, something the world needs desperately right now.”

“You made it safe for this mindfulness practitioner to let go of her shame of not being a “better” meditator over the years and feel more confident with guiding her clients in how to gently heal while being empowered. I am deeply grateful for David’s courageous and pioneering work with TSM and naming the potential negative impact that mindfulness can have on people with unprocessed trauma; I was one of them. As a trauma survivor, there were many times in my 30+ years of meditating that I pushed and forced myself into periods of practice that would ultimately cause dysregulation and even retraumatization. Thankfully, my overall mindfulness practice has been rewarding, life changing, and one of the reasons why I am so passionate about helping others. But I struggled for years and still can with being in my body and as a professional teacher, this would cause me to second guess myself. TSM gave me the reassurance that I wasn’t alone, that healing trauma and mindfulness do not have to be separate processes, and how to develop a deep practice without causing harm to ourselves or students. I can honestly say that taking David’s Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (or ATSM) certification program is a masterful experience filled with top leading experts, an abundance of accessible tools and resources, and held in a safe, wise, and loving container with a beautifully diverse community. Thank you, David, for doing the work and sharing it with us. I feel blessed to have this knowledge and a greater capacity within myself to hold for my students and clients so they can discover in their own timing their wholeness, innate resilience, and shared humanity.”