Compassion Trainings

NEUROSCIENCE | ECOLOGY | MINDFULNESS

Clinical Social Worker Ellen Slater offers retreat style experiential workshops with interactive lecture, guided mindfulness, writing prompts, and unique, thought provoking practices. Licensed Therapists receive CE credits for trainings.

THESE TRAININGS ARE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE A:

Therapist, Counselor, Coach:

Enhance therapeutic skills and integrate diverse approaches.

Leader or Working Professional:

Cultivate intuition in demanding environments.

Individual Seeking Personal Growth:

Awaken your heart and build resilience in daily life.

Choose Your Training

Mindfulness Practitioner or Yoga Teacher:

Learn Neurobiology of embodied practices.

RECORDED TRAININGS

IN-PERSON TRAININGS

"Ellen’s training was remarkable and transformative personally and professionally. Ellen truly is a gifted clinician and presenter. I thought "I knew what there was to know" about self-compassion before the training and I was surprised by how much new insight I obtained."

-Blythe, Licensed Therapist, Compassion Retreat Participant

Join our trainings to support your own neurobiology, while also learning how to deliver impactful neurobiological change in your encounters with others.

The Head & Heart Approach

Ellen teaches her experience and training in Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal and Attachment Theories, The Neuroscience of Compassion, and Ecology. She has developed the Compassion Cultivation Cycle which is a framework to understand shame, anxiety, depression and other forms of suffering, and how to sustainably transform these experiences and build resilience and self-compassion throughout your life.

Through her neurobiology and yoga training, Ellen offers intellectual understanding of the material as well as a path to embodied understanding. This includes a weaving of both lecture and experiential exercises, activating both the right and left hemisphere of the brain for sustainable and deep learning. Further, Ellen’s training offers various nervous system restoration practices to support your overall wellbeing and enhanced learning.

GUIDED MINDFULNESS

EVIDENCE BASED BREATHING

AN ATMOSPHERE OF EASE

Meet Your Guide


Ellen Slater

CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER & MINDFULNESS TEACHER

A graduate of University of Chicago and founder of Head & Heart, an integrative wellness center based out of Winthrop, Washington. Her studies, training, and clinical practice focus on the intersection of spirituality and psychology, incorporating the body into traditional psychotherapy. She has specialized in trauma, addiction, and neuroscience including a Fellowship with the Seattle VA Hospital and a year-long immersion in Interpersonal Neurobiology with Dr. Bonnie Badenoch.

"Ellen Slater is a brilliant therapist and teacher. She gracefully weaves compassionate practice with heady science.”

- 2021 training participant


A focused approach built on a diverse set of knowledge

Ellen focuses on designing interventions, particularly metaphor and mindfulness exercises, from a holistic perspective. She is experienced working with individuals and families in community mental health, the criminal justice system, hospital settings, and currently has a private practice alongside hosting weekend long compassion based retreats. Ellen is sensitive to biological, psychological, social, and spiritual elements of wellness. Her approach is collaborative and interactive with the intention to support discovery, and nourishment, of a whole, integrated life.

Sociology & Psychology

Research-based Neurobiology

Spirituality & Ecology

Words from Students

  • "This training really helps challenge the idea that compassion is weak or letting ourselves or others off the hook. Loved the concept of compassionate willpower and metaphors for defusion."

    - Training Participant

  • "Ellen is a breath of fresh air in our turbulent world. She combines science, compassion, and love into a unique brew that inspires me to be better in every conversation we have."

    - Josh

  • "Ellen has the ability to blend a variety of historic teachings with a modern point of view. Her teachings are extremely accessible. Her lessons have helped me stay present in my life - no matter what is happening around me."

    - Natalie

  • "Ellen is a skilled clinician offering valuable education in a compassionate manner that has the potential to bring great transformation to clients and clinicians alike."

    - Training Participant

EMBRACE THE POWER OF COMPASSION

Compassion Retreats

Deep dive into your own neurobiology and build compassion from the inside out. Heal from anxiety, shame, stress, and more through this evidence based cycle of change.

Continuing Education Trainings

Join us live or in-person for unique, interactive trainings that will nourish yourself while teaching strategies to offer your clients, students, family or community.