Mentorship

In January 2019, I began what would become an immersive and transformational journey in Compassionate Inquiry. As I moved from participant to intern to mentee, I improved my skills, deepened my presence, and learned more about myself. The Mentorship Program provides a unique opportunity, and for me, the phrase “who you are and how you show up as a therapist” is at the heart of it all. As a Compassionate Inquiry mentor, I hope to be a resource for your authentic development and to offer you individualized support as you cultivate your practice. I work from a relational and transformational perspective, honouring the unique strengths and capacities that each person brings to the process.

My background is in clinical psychology, medicine, and education. My professional credentials include a Master’s degree and PhD training in clinical psychology and I am licensed as a doctor of naturopathic medicine. I have been a professor since 2004 and along the way have taken advanced training that supports my professional development, including a recent course in clinical supervision. I have worked with students, colleagues, and clients in support of their development and have experienced the benefits of direct experiential process and reflective practice in learning.

I’ve spent the last twenty years expanding my understanding of health psychology, mind-body medicine, and conscious communication. I have a deep appreciation for the potential that is present at the interface of consciousness, emotion, physiology, and energy. As we become more present and connected with ourselves, there is safety and space for authentic expression through our body, psyche, life, and community. It is my honour to be a Compassionate Inquiry mentor and to help support you in your own process of compassionate practice.

See their practitioner bio here.

My name is Luke. I’m a Wellbeing Coach and Somatic Therapist. I’m also a Facilitator, Mentor, and Practitioner of Compassion Inquiry. Within the context of mentoring, I enjoy – maybe a little too much – unpacking the richness, depth, and wisdom within every single moment of a Compassionate Inquiry session. There is so much to learn about the client – and therapist – if only we pay attention to the small and sometimes overlooked details. I also believe there is no right/wrong or good/bad choices in Compassionate Inquiry… there is only possibility.

For those wanting to work with me as their mentor, know that the end goal is not to acquire knowledge of the Compassionate Inquiry stepping stones (though there will be some exploration of those where relevant), but rather to deepen the awareness of who you are as a practitioner within session, to become aware of subconscious patterns that erode the client’s sense of autonomy, and learn what it means to – truly – trust the client’s innate process of healing.

See their practitioner bio here.

As a Compassionate Inquiry Mentor, I will be working with you to help you achieve your personal and professional goals and competencies related to Compassionate Inquiry. I would like to share some of my professional background with you. I have been practicing full-time as a naturopathic doctor since 1989, with a focus on women’s health, cancer and mind-body approaches to healing. Since 2019, much of my naturopathic practice has included Compassionate Inquiry.

I have been studying, hosting, working and teaching with Dr. Gabor Maté since 2012, and have devoted myself to the task of structuring his work in a format that could be taught to others, as well as to become adept at it myself. I have worked closely alongside Gabor since 2018, specifically developing the Compassionate Inquiry training. I have completed a Basics in Clinical Supervision Training online with Dr. Jeff Chang to prepare myself to mentor others using best practices.

My educational background includes a BA with a major in psychology and English literature, and a B.Sc. in biology from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. I completed postgraduate studies in naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. I taught stress management and women’s health at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine for 10 years. I also completed a diploma in fine art from the Ontario College of Art and Design, with a focus on drawing, painting and sculpture. I’ve written three books on women’s health and have presented at numerous conferences.

My other passion has been Kundalini Yoga, which I have practiced and taught for over 45 years. I have been training and mentoring Kundalini Yoga teachers for 20 years, and teach internationally. I’ve developed yoga-based curriculums in addiction recovery, trauma and breast health and train teachers in those specialties. I have a daily yoga and meditation practice that sustains me.

I live with my husband in an off-grid home on 105 acres of beautiful land and take care of fruit trees and a large garden. I enjoy hiking, cycling, and communing with plants. I have three adult children and two grandchildren.

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It is a pleasure to be joining you on this Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship journey. I was the first official cohort to graduate from the Compassionate Inquiry year long training, one of the first official Interns to finish the Internship, one of the first official Mentees to finish the Mentorship Program, and when asked jumped at the opportunity to become your Mentor. This program has changed my entire being and I am thrilled to share all that I know with you while continuing to deepen my knowledge, and love of Compassionate Inquiry with you.

Dr. Jeff Chang was one of my professors in University and I have recently completed his Clinical Supervision Training online. I am a Registered Psychotherapist and a Registered Yoga Therapist with the International Yoga Therapy Association. I have a private practice out of my home-based office located in a small rural community in Ontario and have been working in social services since 2009. My educational background consists of a Masters in Psychological Counselling, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Addictions: Treatment and Prevention, and a Degree in Sociology

In my early 20’s, I witnessed first-hand the powerful impact of blending Eastern spiritual practices with Western psychology. It was at that time that I started studying yoga with Sat Dharam Kaur and was introduced to the work of Dr. Gabor Mate. Being equally evidence-based, client-centered, and spiritually aligned, I thrive to offer unique opportunities to learn, grow, heal and reconnect with yourself in your personal and professional lives.

See their practitioner bio here.

My intention is to support you as your learning, understanding, and practice of Compassionate Inquiry evolves and expands.

I have been following Dr Gabor Mate’s work since 2016 and was delighted to attend a two-day conference with him in Cork 2018. For more than 25 years I have worked with people, primarily in group settings utilising the natural environment and outdoor activities. I have spent many years working with young people at risk, young and adult offenders, and those who wished to bring about change in their life. I provide empowering experiences such as Firewalking, retreats in the Sahara Desert and Bali, and opportunities for connection with Self, community, and nature; and people were benefitting. However, I was aware that people wanted to go deeper, understand themselves better, and heal. When I saw Gabor working with people, I instantly knew that I wanted to learn more from him and share that with the people I was working with. It was like I had just found the missing jigsaw piece. I was delighted to join the Compassionate Inquiry programme in 2019, certify as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, and now serve as a mentor.

As well as Compassionate Inquiry, I trained in and use Internal Family Systems, and have begun the 3-year training in Somatic Experiencing. To support your process on the Mentorship Programme, I completed the Basics in Clinical Supervision Training with Jeff Chang. I have spent over 25 years training, mentoring, and supporting people as facilitators and instructors in a wide range of skills that support the development of Self.

I believe that the Mentorship Programme has the potential to be the most enriching part of your Compassionate Inquiry training. I wish you every success with it and I would be delighted to assist you in your professional development.

See their practitioner bio here.

My journey in working with people has been meandering, covering a lot of aspects from physica, to mental-emotional and social aspects of health and wellbeing. I unpredictably ended up in Beyond Addiction, a yoga and process work immersion program, working with Sat Dharam and attending the first 2-day Compassionate Inquiry workshop with Gabor in 2016.

I started out as a medical doctor, later became a naturopathic doctor. I have also been working in the social work field with people with addiction and mental health challenges. Learning and using Compassionate Inquiry in my work feels like “coming home”. This approach taught me and it continues to teach me to let go of the need to know, and follow the client with my intuition as it shows up in an attuned connection with the person. Having confidence, complete trust in the client’s process is liberating. This journey has taken me from my mind to my heart and brought me to honour the connection between the two. My spiritual name Manjeet reflects that: “Man” meaning mindheart, as one.

My intention with being a mentor is to support you in recognizing your gifts, being part of your journey in letting go of the need to know, to fix, or help. I aim to be a clear mirror for you, and pass on as much as possible of my experience with Compassionate Inquiry. I am passionate about practicing and mentoring Compassionate Inquiry and feel tremendous gratitude to be part of this training program.

See Maria practitioner bio here.

Hi, I’m Lorraine.

As a Mentor, my intention is to support your growth and learning as you deepen your Compassionate Inquiry practice.

My aim is to offer you an experience of collaborative learning similar to the one offered to me when I was a Mentee. These 5 months transformed not only my practice but also my self-awareness and showed me the value of this guidance.
The Mentorship Programme offers a very special training that whilst challenging and rigorous is one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done.

I finished the Mentorship training having gained confidence in my abilities as a practitioner and a strong desire to learn the skills of mentorship that had been modelled to me. My style of mentoring is supportive, compassionate, gently direct and tailored to you.

I have worked as a therapist for over 10 years and began my Compassionate Inquiry journey in 2019.
I certified as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner 2020, completed Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship 2021, completed Basics of Supervision Training with Lois Ehrmann 2021, Compassionate Inquiry Internship 2022, completed Compassionate Inquiry Mentoring Internship 2022.

Compassionate Inquiry has changed everything for me and allows me to connect with people and the world in ways that I didn’t know were possible before.
I hope my connection with you is one that we both grow from, learn from, and will look back on as a moment in time that we were both glad to have had.

Mary’s intention in mentoring is to help build the mentee’s competence, confidence, and effectiveness in their Compassionate Inquiry approach. She is very adaptable and tailors each session to meet the bespoke needs of the mentee.
Mary has an intuitive eye and uses encouragement and support to draw out the
unique qualities and skills, which perhaps the mentee may not as yet see in
themselves.

Having gone through the process, Mary has met many edges of her own
Blind spots and sub personalities, therefore is familiar with the landscape.
She delivers feedback with warmth and kindness, holding attention to detail with
gentle directness and honesty.

Mary is open, empathetic and holds a safe relational field.
She is looking forward to supporting you through this process and meeting you
with curiosity and a passion to share with you all she has learned.

As a mentor, my goal is to create a ‘brave space’ where you can explore and recognize your personal feelings connected to your client scenarios. Using a reflective approach, I will meet you where you currently stand. I believe in the significance of forming a ‘mentorship alliance’ that will allow for a deeper understanding of your journey as a Compassionate Inquiry practitioner. I approach my work from a multicultural and compassionate perspective, allowing me to carefully examine the intersectionality in your clients’ lives and its influences. Although I was born in Brazil, I have been living in Canada for more than 20 years. As a BIPOC individual, I also incorporate the teachings from my ancestors into our mentorship sessions.

During my master’s degree, I focused on studying trauma, eating disorders, and psychedelics, which equipped me with the skills needed to support various mentees’ interests. I also underwent training in therapeutic somatic modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Somatic Experiencing. Furthermore, I have completed two courses in Clinical Supervision: an online course with Lois Ehrmann, PhD, LPC, NCC/ACS, and a course with Devon Silvers, M.A, R.C.C at City University of Seattle.

Since starting the Compassionate Inquiry learning journey in 2019, I have been fully devoted and dedicated to this approach, as I found I could not get enough! My inquisitive mind and avid curiosity led me through all of the training options offered to becoming a mentor, and it has been an extraordinary fulfilling experience. Initially, my intention was to keep immersing myself in this model and continue learning deeper and deeper aspects, however as I went through the mentor training I realised how much I enjoyed supporting others in refining and owning their skills. You can expect a collaborative experience, where together we will explore the different possibilities within the Compassionate Inquiry approach, whilst paying attention to detail and striving for excellence.

About me: Born in Italy, I currently live and practice in Australia, a single mother of one grown up young man. In one of my “previous lives”, as I like to affectionately refer to them, I worked as a professional freelance translator, mainly in the medical and technical field, with a degree in Modern Languages for Interpreters and Translators from Trieste University, Italy. Meanwhile I was nurturing a fervid interest in human consciousness, the mechanics of healing and wellness and the meaning of the human experience. I am a Hatha and Nada (sacred sound) certified yoga teacher, sound meditation therapist, energy and bodyworker. I have extensive experience in plant medicine facilitation with a focus on preparation and integration (aspects which are unfortunately often overlooked in the current state of affairs and where Compassionate Inquiry came as a strong support beacon). I have facilitated group experiences in the Brazilian Amazon involving Santo Daime, Umbandaime and Indigenous Plant Medicine Ceremonies. I am trained in Attunement Therapy, Spiritual Emergency and have extensive experience in personal growth therapy group work, meditation, breathwork.

I am a musician and song writer and this supports all aspects of my work.

I have recently completed the Lois Ehrmann Clinical Supervision Course.

Mental Health Practitioner

Ildi has twenty years of experience in Human Resources in the corporate world. Her unhealthy attachment to work and her commitment to understand her own destructive behaviors led her to CI, where she was looking for answers until discovering her authentic self with the support of the caring and compassionate CI community. Her biggest challenge was self-compassion and be aware of her own suffer in which the CI approach was transformational for her as CI turned her focus inward, and she was able to notice her thoughts, feelings, sensations in a non-judgmental and curious way.

She is honored and grateful to all of her clients for showing her their vulnerability and allowing her to inquire into their life stories in addition to accompanying them on their own journeys of discovery. She has the qualities to hold a safe container in a humbly way for her clients to tap into themselves and realize their current and repeating patterns in which they stuck and skillfully support them to re-pattern their established habitual grooves to embody who they really are and move towards new spaces of possibilities.

Ildi is CI Practitioner, Mentor and Circle Leader. She has completed the CI Mentorship Program, CI Internship Program, CI Mentoring Internship Program, and continues to develop her skills by being part of the CI community. She persistently broadens her knowledge in order to support others in their healing through various approaches. She has recently started her journey with Internal Family Systems.

Tiph started her journey as an energy healer over 30 years ago and is a registered Counsellor and Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner.

She is a certified Mindfulness Practitioner, having trained with Eckhart Tolle and uses her ability to hold deep presence with her skills as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner to support people through their journey of trauma to a place of authentic connection with themselves.  

Tiph has her own private practice based in the Herefordshire countryside and works with couples and individuals from around the world.

She is deeply committed to her own process and that of her clients and sees her journey of self development as being intertwined with her work as a therapist.  

She believes that the spiritual journey is deeply connected to working through trauma and that the two happen in conjunction with each other.

She has completed the Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship programme and is looking forward to continuing her journey within the Compassionate Inquiry community.  

I am a lifelong passionate experiential learner of heart based ‘alternative’ arts of healing and counselling inspired early on by a knowing that there was more than what was visible to the eye. This eventually led me on a path of inner work, exploration, discovery, relearning and remembering who I AM through the power of different approaches and energy healing – Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Essences, dance, Syntonic mouvement, Yamuna, meditation, Psychology of Vision, Course in Miracles, Being with Dying, the Tree of Life, the Divine Feminine, and Oneness to name a few.

After the death of my little brother when I was 11 my life shifted radically. The trauma from the loss was deep and as a sensitive soul it was isolating and confusing. Not surprising that my journey led me to the field of hospice palliative care where, for 25 years I witnessed, held, journeyed alongside people experiencing the depth of grief, sorrow, despair, and I also witnessed strength, courage, resilience, compassion and love.

My post secondary formal education began in Broadcasting, then at university I studied Women’s Studies, Social Work and received Master’s degree of Arts in Leadership and Training.

My studies in Compassionate Inquiry came at a perfect time and transition in my life. The Compassionate Inquiry approach infused new life, creative energy and inspiration into my counselling practice. Being a witness and guide for those who courageously want to grow and heal continues to be a profound joy,  honour and privilege.

Alexandra’s intention is to create a safe, attuned, compassionate and non-judgmental presence in which healing, growth and connection is possible.

She has worked more than 16 years in non-profit community mental health and addiction agencies, as well as child-welfare.  Currently, she’s employed at a hospital providing clinical services in the outpatient, mental health and addictions department.  Alexandra has her Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto and has her Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Studies from the University of Guelph. She is a Compassionate Inquiry Facilitator, Practitioner and Circle Leader. Alexandra also has a private practice where she works with diverse populations including individuals, couples and families. 

She is an associate member of the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Priya Duggal ND is a registered naturopathic doctor practicing in Vaughan, Ontario. The areas of focus in her practice are breast cancer, autoimmune disorders, addictions, and mental health. She is a firm believer of Mind-Body Medicine. Priya is a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, Facilitator, Educator, and Circle Leader.

She was born and raised in India where she became a medical doctor. Upon moving to Canada, she added to her skills and obtained a degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She spends her time between both Canada and India. She enjoys nature walks, painting, playing with her pet-Kaju, spending quality time with her husband and adult children.

Priya’s journey to self-healing began when she took the Healthy Breast Program with Sat Dharam Kaur, ND. Her quest for personal and professional growth continued by training in Kundalini Yoga, Beyond Addiction and Compassionate Inquiry. She finds Compassionate Inquiry truly liberating from childhood beliefs and perceptions.

She is passionate about helping others live authentic lives as she continues pursuing her own connection with her true self. Her long-term vision is to create a trauma-informed society that provides a safe, nurturing, and healing environment.

This page lists approved Compassionate Inquiry^® Private Mentors, whom you may contact for individual or group mentoring for additional mentoring sessions. Whether you are in the Professional Training, are preparing for a Certification Review, or for the supervision sessions required during your first two years of practice as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner. Please discuss the rate for mentoring directly with your chosen mentor.