Alisa Dennis discovered meditation through her study of metaphysics and ancient Christian mystical traditions. She’s explored many spiritual traditions since then, including indigenous shamanism, which has broadened the matrices through which she understands the nature of human existence. Within Buddhism, Alisa practiced in the S. N. Goenka tradition of Vipassana, and also in the Zen Soto tradition. She studied mindfulness through the Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) at UCLA and completed a multi-year training related to integrating contemplative practices into psychotherapy. Alisa has gravitated toward insight meditation because of its emphasis on heart-opening practices and the inclusiveness and commitment to diversity in many of its communities.
She is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in the Los Angeles area. In addition to drawing from contemplative wisdom traditions in her work, Alisa incorporates the creative arts. She is in the current Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program.