Mindfulness
A way of paying attention that can bring us greater resilience, ease, and joy.
Upcoming Classes & Retreats
Mindful Self-Compassion
Join with like-minded others to explore being kinder to yourself. Warm community and teacher support.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON (Bellingham)
Mondays, October 17 – December 12
Mindful Self-Compassion
Day of Mindfulness & Self-Compassion
(Semiahmoo County Park)
Day of Self-Compassion
REST
A day of mindfulness and movement. Meditate, dance, play, rest. A collaboration with Open Floor Dance teacher and bright light Kelsey Maloney!
At Bellingham’s Presence Studio ~ IN PERSON
Saturday, December 17
New Year’s Reset
Collaboration with yogini supreme, Beth Rusk! Mindfulness, yoga, and writing practices to launch you into the new year. Beautiful setting, indoors and out.
At Bow Sanctuary ~ IN PERSON
Saturday, January 7
Details coming soon . . .
Fierce Compassion: A Women’s Retreat
Join us in cultivating both fierce and tender compassion with a warm community of women.
Step away from your busy life into quiet, contemplation, and beauty.
All who identify as women are welcome.
With the extraordinary Karen Schwisow ~ IN PERSON
June 2-4, 2023
Harmony Hill Retreat Center
Email me to join the list!
What People Are Saying . . .
Insightful, inspirational, and transformative.
-Spencer, MSC participant
Prior to my first workshop with Carolyn on mindful self-compassion, I had been “doing” meditation exercises either with an app or using breathing techniques. 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
I find Carolyn’s feedback as we talk about our experience endlessly helpful, insightful, and genuine.
– Carol G., MSC 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 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
Poetry
Lopsided, luscious,
the moon moves through the cedars,
her golden late-summer light
obscuring the meteors.
She is forgiven.
Carolyn McCarthy
Carolyn McCarthy has worked for years cultivating presence, attentiveness, and joy as a writer, actor, and singer. After a decade of solo meditation practice, she was thrilled to find Mindfulness Northwest’s retreats and classes. The process of learning in community under the guidance of a trained teacher has been invaluable, inspiring her to become a teacher herself.
Carolyn offers classes in the hopes of moving us, individually and collectively, toward healing, wholeness, and love. Her practice supports her work in social justice, encouraging her to turn toward the difficult within and without. Mindfulness practices also help her to be a calmer, happier person and a better mother, daughter, partner, and friend (most of the time!).
Carolyn lives with her family where the Chuckanut Mountains meet the Salish Sea in 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. In addition to time in the classroom, she loves reading, singing, writing letters, watching birds, and dancing like a fool.
TRAINING: Certified to teach MSC by UCSD Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. Trained to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through Mindfulness Northwest. Graduate of Mindfulness Northwest’s 9-month Mindfulness Teacher Training Program. Has attended retreats & trainings with Michelle Becker, Robin Boudette, Tim Burnett, Chris Germer, Steve Hickman, Michelle Johnson, Kristin Neff, Tuere Sala, Regula Saner, Karen Schwisow, Heather Sundberg, and David Treleaven.
