A place of awareness

Mari Orkenyi

Contemplative Educator, Mindfulness/Compassion Teacher and Writer

 
 

Hi! I'm Mari, short for Mariana. I'm a Psychotherapist-in-Training,Mindfulness Teacher and Writer. My work lives in the space where Contemplative and Spiritual Practices, Buddhist Psychology, Arts, and Western Psychotherapy intersect. I'm deeply interested in the complexity of human beings, and therefore an approach that is rooted in depth and self-exploration. My work is a process anchored in helping people to welcome all they are made of with spaciousness and compassion. To become aware of what is unconscious, to gently and safely integrate within.

I’m trained in Contemplative Psychotherapy and have been teaching Buddhist Meditation for over 7 years around the world. I've incorporated in my practice, tools and teachings that support our capacity to re-establish a connection with our body, breath, soul, and mind.

As a native Brazilian immigrant with Hungarian Jewish roots, living in Los Angeles by way of Spain and Mexico, my multicultural perspectives and backgrounds are continuously informing my work.


What working with me looks like?

My approach is based on my training in Contemplative Psychotherapy which is the intersection of Buddhist Psychology and Western Psychotherapy. As a Mindfulness and Compassion teacher, practice is the center of our work together. In our relationship, we create safety and connection and I offer my presence, my deep listening, and a depth psychological perspective.

Together, we use different practices to unlearn, uncover, notice, name, and allow what is coming up and tools to integrate through the process of going within and being still. In our sessions we use dialogue, inquiry, readings and embodied practices to sustain this deep and unique process.

 
Portrait by Claudia Lucia

Portrait by Claudia Lucia

 

I bring the following perspectives to the sessions

  • Depth Psychology

  • Mindfulness and Compassion based practices

  • Visualization practices

  • Breathing exercises

  • Reflection through journaling and inquiry

Education

  • Masters in Counseling Pyschology, Pacifica Graduate Institute (in progress)

  • Certified in Contemplative Psychotherapy,  Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science

  • Certified Meditation Teacher, Ananda School of Yoga and Meditation

  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - MBSR, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center

  • Master in Arts, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona

  • I'm under the supervision of Dr. Pilar Jennings