Mindfulness
A way of paying attention that can bring us greater resilience, ease, and joy.
Upcoming Classes & Retreats
Free practice recordings! Listen HERE.
Day of Self-Compassion
Take time out to nourish yourself in this online retreat day. Practice in your pjs!
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ ONLINE
Saturday, March 16
Spring Weekend Retreat
Brief retreat in a special setting. With my mentor and partner in mindful crime, Karen Schwisow! Open to all.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
At Samish Camp on Samish Island, Bow
March 22-24
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
The gold standard! Decades of research prove: It helps. Learn about your brain, support your nervous system, practice in community. Good stuff.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
At Prime in Bellingham, WA
April 2 – May 21
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
See description above. 🙂
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ ONLINE
April 21 – June 16
Day of Mindfulness
Full day of silent practice indoors & out. Beautiful setting, supportive community.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
(Semiahmoo County Park)
Saturday, May 11
Fierce Compassion: A Women’s Retreat
Join us in cultivating both fierce and tender compassion with a warm community of women.
With the extraordinary Karen Schwisow!
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
At Whidbey Institute
May 24-26
PLUS, Midday Mindfulness!
FREE but you must register HERE to receive the link.
Wednesdays at noon
Usually taught by Tim Burnett, but I often sub.
I will be teaching:
April 3
April 10
April 17
What People Are Saying
Insightful, inspirational, and transformative.
-Spencer, MSC participant
Carolyn, you have a gift for creating a space where discoveries can be made. Thank you for your guidance.
-Becca, Mindful Writing participant
Carolyn provided an abundance of information while keeping the learning incredibly organic and experiential. I appreciate the scientific and practical examination of the practice along side the less tangible, emotional, spiritual elements.
– taylor s., MBSR participant
Carolyn opened up the world of mindfulness to me. She is a wonderful teacher – patient, empathetic, warm, compassionate, and a brilliant communicator with great energy! She went above and beyond to understand the needs of each student.
-Anand, MSC participant
The most impressive thing to me about Carolyn is that she doesn’t try to present herself as being impressive. It wasn’t that she had all the answers and was sharing them with us. Instead, she had the ability to help us understand that for ourselves. It was like she was opening a door and giving us the opportunity to walk through it. She is the real thing—a genuine teacher.
-Tom, MSC participant
Thank you for everything! Your humor, boundary-keeping, and genuine care were treasured.
-Kathleen, MSC participant
I find Carolyn’s feedback as we talk about our experience endlessly helpful, insightful, and genuine.
– Carol G., MSC participant
Carolyn is a really wonderful instructor – she holds space for everyone in the class in a special way, modeling the practice of mindful self-compassion, but as an outward expression.
-Erin B., MSC participant
Lots of great insights and practices that help you to understand mindfulness and how you can use it in your daily life in formal or informal ways.
– Jen H., MBSR participant
Carolyn is great! Well-studied, wise, creative, playful and pragmatic. Anything you glean from the course and your practice improves your life.
– Renee, MSC participant
Headshot by Tiffany Brooks
Carolyn McCarthy
Carolyn offers classes in the hopes of moving us, individually and collectively, toward healing, wholeness, and love. Zest, warmth and wit enliven her teaching. Core practices: sitting meditation, time outside, solo living room dance parties.
A student of social justice, Carolyn uses mindfulness to face difficult truths within and without. All are welcome in her offerings. She lives and practices on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish people. Here by way of colonialism, she is grateful for the ongoing leadership that her neighbors, the Lhaq’te’mish (Lummi Nation), provide in caring for the lands and waters we all call home.
- Certified to teach MSC by UCSD Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
- Certified to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through Mindfulness Northwest.
- Graduate of Mindfulness Northwest’s 9-month Mindfulness Teacher Training Program.
- Trainings and retreats with Chris Germer, Michelle Johnson, Tuere Sala, Heather Sundberg, David Treleaven, and many others.