Jean Esther, MSW (she/her) began formally training in meditation over 50 years ago. Since 1982, she has been training in the Theravada tradition with senior Western teachers, as well as Asian and Western monastics. She began extensive teacher training in 2008. Jean’s dharma teaching is informed by over 45 years of practice as a psychotherapist integrating spiritual inquiry, psychological understanding, and somatic awareness. For over 20 years, she trained with renowned Jungian analyst Marion Woodman, and in numerous mind/body trauma-informed practices over the past 4 decades. She continues to be inspired by the Buddha’s teachings on love and wisdom and is committed to transmitting them with respect for, and understanding of, social and cultural diversity. Jean serves on the Guiding Teacher’s Council at Insight Western Mass, is a Guiding Teacher of True North Insight in Ontario, Canada, teaches regularly at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, as well as across the US and Canada. In addition, she maintains her psychotherapy practice in Northampton, MA.
