Christopher considers himself a lifetime student, practitioners, teacher, and facilitator. Chris claims that his dedication to study allows him to be a more skilled teacher and facilitator. Each course gives Chris a deeper understanding and a broader base from which to speak from. This page includes some of the highlights from Chris’s extensive study and research.

2024-Currently: Enrolled in Buddhist Psychology. A five month long immersive training. Facilitated by Matthew Brensilver, PhD and offered through Spirit Rock Dharma Center.

2024-Currently: Enrolled in Healing Trauma. A nine month immersive training offered through Sounds True and facilitated by Dr. Jeffrey Rutstein.

2024-Currently: Enrolled in Traumatic Stress Studies. A seven month immersive training. Offered through the Trauma Research Foundation and facilitated by Bessel Van Der Kolk.

2024- Completed: Body as Healer: Freedom From Chronic Pain. Offered through Sounds True and facilitated by Dr. Peter Levine.

2024- Completed: Complex Trauma Certification Course. (CCPT-ll) Offered through the Trauma Research Foundation. Facilitated By Janina Fisher, PhD.

2024-Completed: 2-Day Intensive Trauma Treatment Certification Workshop: EMDR, CBT, and Somatic Based Interventions. Offered through PESI. Facilitated By Arielle Schwartz, PhD.

2023: Completed. Mindfulness Teacher Development Program. Facilitated by Christina Feldman, Chris Cullum, Jaya Rudgard, and John Peacock. Offered through Bodhi College.

2023: Completed: Mindfulness Based Substance Abuse Treatment. (MBSAT) A three day online study retreat. Facilitated by Sam Himelstein, PhD. And offered through the Center For Adolescent Studies.

2023: Completed Wise Speech. Offered through Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer.

2023: Completed. Five day online study retreat on The Eightfold Path. Offered through Bodhi College. Facilitated by Jaya Rutgard.

2023: Completed. Breaking Habits. Offered through Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Facilitated by Dr. Judson Brewer.

2023: Completed: Healing Somatic Wounds. Offered through The Embody Lab. Facilitated by Dr. Peter Levine.

2023: Completed: Mindfulness For Trauma, Addiction, and Self Regulation study retreat. Facilitated by Sam Himelstein, PhD. And offered through the Center For Adolescent Studies.

2023: Completed: Teaching Mindfulness to Teens daylong study program. Facilitated by Sam Himelstein, PhD. And offered through the Center For Adolescent Studies.

2023: Completed: Mind And Body Are One. And Eight Week Online Study Retreat. Facilitated by Venerable Thich Nhat Hnan and Plum Village Sangha.

2023: Completed: Mindful Communication 2.0 Part 1-3. A 24 week online study program facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer through Barre Institute For Buddhist Studies.

2023: Completed: Five Day Silent Retreat In The Netherlands. Facilitated by Christina Feldman. Through Bodhi College.

2023: Completed: Neurodharma. The Science Behind Buddhist Meditation. Facilitated by Rick Hanson, PhD.

2023: Completed: Eight Week Study Online Retreat: Reimagining The Eightfold Path. Through Tricycle Learning and Bodhi College.

2023: Completed: Eight Week Online Study Retreat: Early Buddhism and Emptiness. Facilitated By Mingyur Rinpoche and Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. Through Wisdom Institute

2023: Completed: Ten Directions Online Program: Making Group Facilitation Fun.

2022: Completed: Dependent Arising Eight Week Online Meditation Retreat. Facilitated by Bodhi College and offered through Tricycle Online Learning.

2021-2022: Completed: 300HR Mindfulness Teacher Training Course through Engaged Mindfulness Institute.

2022: Completed: One week long silent retreat facilitated by Fleet Maull and the Engaged Mindfulness Institute.

2022: Completed: Compassion and The Six Realms. A weekend online retreat facilitated by Pema Chodron and Tim Olmsted.

2022: Completed: Compassion and Impermanence. Eight week online study retreat facilitated by Martine Batchelor, offered through Tricycle Online Learning.

2022: Completed: The Four Noble Truths. A Secular Approach. Eight week online study retreat facilitated by Bodhi College.

2022: Completed: Emptiness. A Meditators Guide. Eight Week Online Study Retreat facilitated by Guy Armstrong through Wisdom Learning.

2022: Completed: The Tibetan Book of the Dead. One Month Online Study Retreat facilitated by Andrew Holecek and Embodied Philosophy Institute

2022: Completed: Mindfulness of Breathing. Nine Week Online Study Retreat facilitated by Ven Analayo and offered the The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

2022: Completed: The Manual of Insight eight week online study retreat. Offered through Wisdom Learning. Facilitated by Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters.

2022: Completed: Mindfulness. A Secular Approach. An eight week online study retreat. Facilitated by Bodhi College and offered through Tricycle Online Learning.

2022: Completed: Seven Day Online Meditation Retreat on The Eightfold Path of Buddhism, facilitated by Stephen Batchelor.

2021: Completed: The Way of The Buddha year-long study at Insight Meditation Society Online with Sharon Salzburg.

2021: Completed: “Say What You Mean” Mindful Communication Twelve Week Online Study Retreat offered by The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies facilitated by Oren Jay Sofer.

2020-2022: Completed: The Joy Of Living Course through Tergar Online under tutelage of Mingyur Rinpoche in the Tibetan Dzogchen Buddhist tradition.

2021: Completed: 6 Day Online Silent Retreat Facilitated by Fleet Maull and The Engaged Mindfulness Institute.

2021: Completed: The Seven Factors of Awakening Online Study Retreat. Offered through Bodhi College and Tricycle Magazine. Facilitated by Christina Feldman and Jaya Rudgard.

2021: Completed: The Science of Wellbeing Psychology course through Yale Online University, facilitated by Laurie Santos, PhD.

2021: Completed: Positive Neuroplasticity Professional Training Course, Facilitated by Rick Hanson, PhD.

2021: Completed The Trauma Healing Online Study Course offered by Sounds True and facilitated by Peter Levine, PhD.

2021: Completed The Compassionate Enquiry “Short Course” Three Month Online Study Program facilitated by Gabor Mate. PhD.

2021: Completed the Return To Wholeness. A Guide to Understanding and Integrating Trauma Online Study Program facilitated by Gabor Mate, PhD.

2021: Completed Cultural Somatics Training Facilitated by Resmaa Menakem.

2021: Completed a one week long solitary silent retreat. Chiangmai, Thailand.

2021: Completed The Nine Week Satipatthana Sutta Online Study Retreat facilitated by the Venerable Bhikkhu Analayo and The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

2021: Completed The Power of Awareness Mindfulness Teacher Training Program facilitated by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.

2021: Completed: Meditation in the Abhidhamma Ten Week Study Retreat through Wisdom Academy. Facilitated by the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi.

2021: Completed: After Buddhism Twelve Week Online Study Retreat facilitated by Stephen Batchelor.

2021: Completed: Buddhist Psychology course through Princeton University Online, taught by Robert Wright PhD.

2021: Completed Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction with UMASS Amherst Online.

2020: Completed Advanced Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness certificate program. Facilitated by David Treleaven PhD.

2019. Completed Secular Dharma. A six week online retreat facilitated by Stephen and Martine Batchelor in the Secular Buddhist tradition.

2018: Completed a one week long solitary silent retreat in Chiangmai, Thailand.

2017: Completed a one week long solitary silent retreat in Nepal.

2016: Completed a ten day solitary silent retreat in the Palawan, Philippines

2013: Completed a one month monastic residency at The Fire Lotus Zen Center in Brooklyn, NY.

2013: Completed two 5 day long silent retreat at the Insight Center Redwood City California under Andrea Fella and Kamala Masters.

2011: Completed a 40 day solo silent retreat in the Netherlands.

2006-2013: Studying Tibetan Buddhism and meditation with Ken McLeod of the Kagyu tradition. Emphasis on Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachings.

2002-2005: Studying Vedanta Hinduism with Ananda Marga. 2000-2006: Formal training at The Fire Lotus Temple in Brooklyn, NY.

1988-1992: Formal training at The Cambridge Zen Center, Cambridge, MA.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

July 2023-Currently: Creating, installing, and facilitating mindfulness programs for Impact Life. A Sober Living and Recovery Group.

2009-Currently: Teaching students formally online and in person.

May 2020-January 2024 Facilitating multiple eight week online meditation programs on various topics, including but not limited to, Mindfulness, Compassion, Lovingkindness, Joy, Equanimity, The Inner Critic, Embracing Change and Impermanence, Rest For Resilience.

Oct 2022-November 2023 Facilitating Learning “Pods” for Synthesis Institute for Psychedelic Facilitation.

May 2022- July 2022 Facilitating mindfulness and meditation at The New Life Wellness Community in Portugal.

Nov 2021-January 2022: Internship at The Dawn Rehabilitation Center in Chiangmai, Thailand.

2015-2020 Seasonally employed by Celebrity Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Teaching mindfulness, meditation and giving presentations on the topic of Buddhism

2017: Teaching meditation classes at Tanjong Jara Resort YTL wellness center in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

2017-2018 Launched a speaking engagement/ teaching tour. Teaching workshops and classes in centers in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Texas, New York City, and Wales U.K.

2018-2020 Heading the meditation program at The New Life Foundation in Chiangrai, Thailand. Including working with a staff of therapists to create the contemplative stream of study within the residential program. In addition to this, I facilitated two five day retreats and a one week residential retreat on site, offered daily morning meditations, one on one interviews throughout the day, offered afternoon mindfulness sessions, a book study, and monthly dharma talks.

2020: Offered daily dharma talks and guided meditations online to help alleviate lockdown stress and anxiety due to the Covid 19 crises.The series ran for six months.

2020: Facilitated an eight week program on the practices of Metta (Lovingkindness) at Chiangmai Holistic Center in Chiangmai, Thailand.

Writing

2016: Completed first book on the topic of meditation entitled “Such Sweet Thunder” This book became the curriculum for the online school I later developed.

2020: Completed second book entitled “A Voice From the Ever-Change.”