Tara Brach

Tara Brach, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, meditation teacher, and author whose work has contributed to the integration of Buddhist mindfulness practices into Western psychology. Brach began her exploration of contemplative practices after college, spending a decade living in an ashram where she practiced and taught yoga and concentrative meditation. She later discovered Buddhist Insight Meditation and completed a teacher training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Brach earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Fielding Institute, focusing her dissertation on meditation as a therapeutic modality, which informed her approach to synthesizing Eastern spiritual practice with Western psychological methods.

Brach's teachings combine psychological insight with contemplative wisdom. Working as both a psychotherapist and meditation teacher, she introduced meditation techniques to therapy clients and incorporated psychological perspectives into meditation instruction. This approach led to the development of training programs for psychotherapists to integrate mindfulness strategies into clinical practice. Brach is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences, addressing topics such as mindfulness in emotional healing and spiritual growth, and she leads accredited workshops for mental health professionals in the United States and Europe.

As a founding teacher, Brach established the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C., which has become one of the largest non-residential meditation centers in the United States. Alongside Jack Kornfield, she co-founded the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program, serving participants from dozens of countries. Brach has also promoted the use of mindfulness to address issues such as racial injustice, equity, environmental sustainability, and outreach to underserved communities, including initiatives in schools and prisons.

Brach is the author of several books, including "Radical Acceptance," which explores Buddhist practices and personal experiences with self-judgment and healing. Her book "True Refuge" appeared on The Washington Post bestseller list. Additional works include "Radical Compassion," which introduces the RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) meditation framework, as well as "Trusting the Gold" and "The Courageous Heart Workbook." Brach's weekly podcast is a widely accessed mindfulness resource, downloaded millions of times each month, reflecting the broad impact of her psychologically informed approach to meditation and emotional well-being.