Mindfulness
A way of paying attention that can bring us greater resilience, ease, and joy.
Upcoming Classes & Retreats
Free practice recordings! Listen HERE.
Roots of Mindfulness Retreat
5-day retreat in a special setting. Open to all.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
At Samish Camp on Samish Island, Bow
August 23-28
Fierce Compassion: A Retreat Day for Women
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 Brightwater
September 7
Mindful Self-Compassion
Learn how to befriend yourself, especially when things are tough. This class was a game changer for me. Powerful practice, warm community.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
At Prime in Bellingham, WA
September 30 – November 18
Mindful Self-Compassion
See description above. 🙂
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ ONLINE
September 29 – November 17
Meeting Grief
Gentle afternoon workshop, everyone welcome. Beautiful setting, supportive community.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
Bow Sanctuary
September 28
An Evening of Mindful Self-Compassion
Curious about MSC? Dip your toe in with this FREE session.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
Village Books in Fairhaven
November 6
Day of Self-Compassion
A day of continuous guided practice at the beach! Silence, community, and the beauty of nature. We will be indoors & out.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
Semiahmoo County Park
November 16
Warm Heart, Clear Mind
An immersive mindfulness and compassion retreat to stoke the fires within.
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ ONLINE
December 14
Registration now open!
Fierce Compassion Women’s Retreat
For Mindfulness Northwest ~ IN PERSON
May 16-18, 2025
At Whidbey Institute
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 teaches 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.
- 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, Joseph Goldstein, Kamala Masters, Michelle Johnson, Tuere Sala, David Treleaven, and many others.
- Practices with Zen sanghas in Bellingham, WA & Vancouver, BC, and with insight teacher Vance Pryor.
I live and practice on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish people. Here by way of colonialism, I am grateful for the ongoing leadership that my neighbors, the Lhaq’te’mish (Lummi Nation), provide in caring for the lands and waters we all call home.