Dear Friends:
It’s been a while. If you haven’t known what has been unfolding in my life over these last few years, I have a few items to share with you.
Firstly, for those who didn’t know, I was accepted into the MS in Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, in 2021. I started in August of that year and will complete my program this December (almost done!). I initially thought I’d continue teaching while studying, but I quickly learned that graduate school is like being on a train where the stops are too short and rare.
My insatiable drive to keep expanding and learning led me to graduate school, and as I near the end of this chapter, I know it was the right decision. I continue to be energized by the prospect of nurturing a sophisticated praxis of Asian and Euro-American therapies. I explored supplementing talk therapies with Asian philosophies and contemplative practices during my clinical internship. To cap off this effort within my program, my thesis critiques several principles of constructivist therapy from the perspective of Buddhist Abhidharma. Shaping my clinical identity and methodology will be an ongoing project as a new psychotherapist, a journey I readily embrace.
Getting to this point, though, has required numerous sacrifices, the biggest being the long periods away from Paul. I couldn’t have done this without his constant support, but we are both beyond ready for the long separations and flights across the Atlantic to end. So, what’s the next adventure? I’ll share more on that in the coming months.
In the meantime, I’m ecstatic to plant seeds for future teaching programs (finally!). After years of kicking the idea around, Christina Prieto and I finally found the right time to collaborate on a retreat. Our 2024 Peru Retreat (almost sold out!) was born, and we launched registration just over two weeks ago. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming classes and events.
Finally, I want to thank those of you who have remained in my life, supporting my work over the decades! I can hardly believe I started teaching in 2004. Despite the many incarnations of teaching and practice I have undergone, the one constant remains a genuine desire to share with you the techniques and philosophies that have transformed my life.
In Spirit
Sati