TRANSFORM TRAUMA INTO FREEDOM – “I discovered that clinging to my narratives of abuse, abandonment and anger kept me trapped in a cycle of mental enslavement. I found myself in a state of toxic relationships and battling harmful habits.” As Bob Marley prophetically sings “Emancipate Yourself From Mental Slavery no one but ourselves can free our minds”. I provide one to one and group coaching, and deliver courses. Dr. Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John, M.A. (hon.doc) is a keynote speaker, mindfulness speaker, meditation speaker and master trainer in the field of TRAUMA transformation, leadership and mindfulness expert. And is a founding facilitator of Dr Gabor Maté Compassionate Inquiry, trained in Internal Family Systems and Conflict Transformation.
They are also the author of eleven books and the Co-Founder of Eight Step Recovery, an alternative to the 12-step program for addiction. I am available for hire as an expert trauma specialist, coach, counsellor, meditation and mindfulness teacher, and to deliver courses or give talks.
Author & Hire a Meditation Teacher
Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John is an award-winning author and editor of eleven books, including Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, and Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma. This year their book I Am Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin was shortlisted for both the Dorothy Livesay and Gerald Lampert Awards. In the Fall of 2021 Afrikan Wisdom: New Voices Talk Black Liberation, Buddhism, and Beyond was published. First Aid Kit for the Mind, Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviours, is a book for healing, and a book for spiritual awakening. Their books have been endorsed by Dr Gabor Maté, Sharon Salzburg, Ken Hardy, Martine Batchelor and many others. They are for Hire as a meditation teacher, mindfulness teacher, compassion teacher, and as a one to one coach.
Trauma informed Mindfulness Coach
Vimalasara is an accredited Life Coach and Addictions Coach. They are also one of the founding facilitators of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry CI course. They are trained in both CI and Internal Family Systems IFS, and work as a Mindfulness Coach, Mindful life Coach to help liberate people from the prison of their minds. They are ordained into the Triratna Community, and have been practising Buddhism for over 30 years. They are a celebrated mindfulness teacher, and offer life coaching services as well as mindfulness training. And can be hired as a meditation teacher.
Keynote Speaker
Vimalasara has had over 300,000 hits on their TED X talk We are What We Think. They are an international keynote speaker in the field of Mindfulness for Addiction and Mindfulness for Trauma. They were a panelist on the Wisdom of Trauma Summit and are featured on Round Glass and Insight Timer as a public speaker and meditation and mindful teacher as well as a mindful life coach.
Addiction Recovery Coach
Vimalasara co-edited the award winning book Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings To Overcome Addiction. There are Eight Step Recovery meetings on several continents, and this free program has become part of many other recovery modalities. They are also the Co-Founder of the accredited program Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery MBAR, a cousin of Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention. There are MBAR facilitators in several countries. They offer addiction coaching, compassionate inquiry coaching, buddhist addiction treatment and addiction recovery courses.
If you have been inspired by my free dharma talks and or free offerings please donate here.
Special Events
Living Recovery in Unsettling Times – Retreat May 22-25th 2025
This in-person retreat is open to both beginners and experienced practitioners. All recovery paths are welcome, whether Twelve Step, Recovery Dharma, Eight Step Recovery, substance, process, or relationship-oriented.
Join Kevin Griffin and I for this unique meditation retreat combining traditional Buddhist practices with recovery and healing. Primarily conducted in silence, the retreat focuses on insight/mindfulness meditation, with additional interactive exercises, lectures, and meetings exploring ways that Buddhism and a recovery program can complement each other.
A New Frontier for Mental Health Treatment
Click below for 13 ground breaking conversations on psychedelics as a path to freedom – and can they really help people with addictions
A Yoga Recovery Symposium – Moving Beyond Addiction May 5-9 2025
Come explore cutting-edge teachings on and approaches to addiction and recovery. Pioneers in the field of spirituality, mindfulness, yoga, ayurveda, and recovery will address the issue of addiction for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.
Contact Valerie Mason-John
Speaking and Media Requests can be made here