Welcome to School of Self-Study!

School of Self-Study is an international community of lifelong learners growing together towards greater self-mastery, confidence, and joy.

Every human heart has points of development. There is no shame in the ways we each have left to grow.
We are committed to supporting one another in our personal growth, for we know that the health of the individual supports
the health of their families and larger communities.
We are committed to engaging with the reality of life, and to fully unfolding our truth.

Cool. What do you teach?

The School is an inner personal education program designed to help the student increase self-awareness and accountability, and have happier, healthier relationships with themselves and others. The School draws inspiration from experiential education, neuroscience, modern psychology, world wisdom traditions, the human body and the natural world. It utilizes meditation, movement and reflective writing as explorative tools.

Unlike a traditional academic program in which you’re told what to learn, at the School you define your own learning goals. You tell me what is alive for you, what you care about, and what you are curious to know about yourself. Courses do have curriculum and structure, but they are secondary to and in support of what really matters to you.

Self-Study is All About You!

Curious? Talk to me.

Take a peek at courses.

Things you may want to know...

Is Self-Study for me?
Self-Study students come from all walks of life. They may be going through a significant transition, and hoping to better understand themselves and how to best proceed. They may need support around establishing new habits and patterns, and phasing out the old. They may have big professional ambitions, and are looking for tools to encourage their success. The common bond is that they are all interested in exploring their inner worlds through the mediums of movement, meditation and written reflection. No prior experience is needed, and the goal is consistent, committed participation, so students determine how much time they can reasonably dedicate to this based on the realities of their lives. The structure is flexible to meet everyone where they are, so we can all thrive together in our own ways. Shoot me a message if you're unsure!

Is this therapy?
School courses are meant to create a strong foundation for inquiry and embodiment practices that each student can then continue to develop on their own, or in subsequent School courses. It is a compliment to, not a substitute for, professional counseling or psychotherapy.

It is my desire to teach self-study skills, which have helped me live more free, happy and alive. While I have a background in crisis counseling and some mental health training, I’m not here or qualified to diagnose or treat any serious mental health concerns. However, I am very happy to be a part of someone’s wellness journey that includes advanced degree professionals where needed. I'm always here to help connect people to the appropriate resources.

Meditation, huh? Is this religious?
School courses are not affiliated with any particular religion or any one tradition. There are many wise teachings from which it is worth drawing inspiration. I am as much a scientist as I am a philosopher, and ultimately interested in methods with at least some proven clinical efficacy. Nothing works for everyone. Let's find out what works for you!

Who are your teachers or influences?
Good question! I've been blessed with a wealth of gifted teachers.

Here's an incomplete list:
-My mother and grandmother, and their warm, generous hospitality and care
-Steve Cochrane and the Community Involvement Center at SFSU
-Yoga teacher Mark Frankel and this movement prompt, which has informed so much of my decision making for the last several years:

“Space and freedom through stability and discipline.”
-Kundalini yoga teacher Guru Singh and his direction to "Cover the drain."
-Brene Brown’s work on vulnerability and shame
-Josh Korda and Dharma Punx NYC
-Paul Weinfield and his achingly beautiful daily musings
-adriene maree brown and Emergent Strategy
-Movement teachers, Carmine Black and Anna Grundstrom, and the powerful containers for healing they create through dance

Hi! I'm Kirsten.

I'm the founder and head instructor at the School, and I am deeply, wildly nerdy for self-study. I began reflecting on my inner world in writing at 7 years old, amassing a huge box of notebooks that I’ve filled in the decades since. I am also deeply, wildly nerdy for movement. I started dance training as a tiny kid, and practicing yoga in 1999. Later in life I took an interest in meditation and modern psychology, studying with psychologists, Buddhist scholars and neuroscience researchers. Overtime it became apparent the ways these interests and practices overlap, support and inform one another, and if consciously connected could be more powerful than any one element on its own.

My great underlying motivation in life is seeking to understand myself and others better, and to teach what I learn. I am passionate about helping people tap into their own wells of wisdom to source clarity, joy and inspiration, and to solve problems.

I am also a lover of vegan ice cream, long walks in big cities and every dog. All of them.