Lea Seigen Shinraku is a licensed therapist, creative self-compassion teacher, artist, and founder of the Center for Creative Self-Compassion (formerly The San Francisco Center for Self-Compassion). Her teaching is warm, playful, practical, and creative. She incorporates elements of Buddhist and Jungian depth psychology, art journaling, as well as an understanding of the neuroscience of attachment, creativity, and play. Nothing means more to her than helping people accept themselves and express themselves creatively.
Zen practice deeply informs Lea’s work. She has meditated regularly for over 20 years and practiced residentially at San Francisco Zen Center. In 2009, she received lay ordination in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. To learn more about the impact that Zen has had on Lea’s work, please read this interview: “What I’m Doing Has to Be Enough.”
A trained Mindful Self-Compassion teacher, Lea also has studied with Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer—pioneers and leaders in the field of self-compassion research and training.
Lea has enjoyed leading workshops and trainings at many Zen centers, including Austin Zen Center in Austin, TX; San Antonio Zen Center in San Antonio, TX; and Mid-City Zen Center in New Orleans, LA.