Exploring what’s real and
what’s possible—Together
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I spent the first half of my life feeling mostly overwhelmed and lost, with occasional spontaneous glimpses into profound relief and clarity. These brief tastes of freedom eventually saved me from succumbing to a life of silent despair.
In my early 20s, yearning for lasting relief, I began to “seek”, drifting from one job to another, then joining the Peace Corps and traveling around the world. Each new experience brought more struggle and questioning, but this became the fertile ground for a naturally emerging contemplative practice. And as time went on I found myself increasingly embracing mindfulness as a beacon of clarity amidst the confusion.
I have seen for myself how weaving mindfulness practice into a life of discontent and lostness can naturally and gradually reveal a clear path to peace, joy and fulfillment.
If you are new to mindfulness or feel like your practice has hit a wall, I’d love to guide you in exploring your sensory experience with creativity and playfulness. Together we can find ways that work for you to naturally develop your concentration, sensory clarity, and equanimity—the attentional skills that are essential for growth and flourishing.
My experience and dedication also extends to supporting people who encounter disorientation or overwhelm in practice due to major emotional challenges or perceptual shifts. I’ve personally "used" mindfulness to resolve panic disorder and depression, as well as positively integrate shifts in consciousness that were initially unsettling.
I’ve maintained a mindfulness practice in various forms for 15 years, and alongside my current practice with the Unified Mindfulness system, hold a particular interest in inquiry practice, relational practices, and embracing life itself as the ultimate teacher.
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My teaching is primarily based on the Unified Mindfulness system designed by Shinzen Young.
The UM system is a comprehensive, robust and refined support structure that any individual at any stage of meditation practice can rely on to deepen their insight and their ability to share it with others. UM is also a secular form of meditation, meaning it is not religious in any way, so anyone, of any faith, can practice it and teach it.
Unified Mindfulness defines mindfulness as the training of three core attentional skills, Concentration, Sensory Clarity, and Equanimity, in the service of happiness, as is broadly and deeply defined by the Happiness Grid (reproduced below).
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After scheduling a free 30-minute consultation, you will receive an intake form to help clarify your motivations and goals for practice. This form should be filled out before our initial consultation if possible.
Drawing from the information gathered in your intake form and our initial consultation, we will map out a personalized path that aligns with your goals and current life circumstances.
Subsequent meetings will typically involve a review of your progress since our last meeting, followed by guided and interactive practice sessions.
As our journey progresses and new insights emerge, we will regularly revisit and refine our approach to accommodate your evolving interests, opportunities, and needs.
For more on what it is like to work with me, please refer to the Testimonials at the bottom of this page.
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I offer coaching services on a sliding scale basis, with a suggested rate of $70 per hour meeting. Contributions exceeding this rate go towards supporting individuals who do not have the means to afford my suggested rate.
If you are interested in working with me but the suggested rate exceeds your means, please feel free to schedule a free consultation and I can work with you to accommodate your financial situation.
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I adhere to the ethical guidelines and professional standards of Unified Mindfulness, which you can read here.
Testimonials
I met Avery 5 years ago at a public event, only a few months prior to Covid-19's arrival and the period of turbulent uncertainty and disconnection it brought to most peoples' lives, mine included. In Avery I found a friend, and by lucky chance, a neighbor, living a short walk from the door of the studio apartment I was inhabiting during my first year working as a Peer Specialist, still finding my footing in the aftermath of personally dark era. Our proximity, and a mutual love for walking, afforded us countless opportunities to explore the nearby neighborhoods of Rochester. These walks had all the makings of what have have come to be among the most meaningul and important conversations in my 46 years of life: endless time, peacfully empty streets and a conversational partner like Avery, whose unbounded curiousity, warm presence, gentle humor, and bright clarity of mind held half of the space we came to share with our words, which invited within me the courage to inhabit my own half with a feeling of satisfaction and hope that persists in my every encounter with him. Simply through his way of relating, and by being fully himself, conversations with Avery almost invariably become adventures in ideas, ultimately encircling, but never grabbing too tightly upon the delicate facts, feelings and intuitions that shape compassionate awareness, which is transformative.
Matt Vinciguerra - Addiction Peer Specialist
“I am very delighted for the opportunity to work with Avery as my coach. Avery brings to the conversation a very helpful depth and breadth of experience. He is insightful, positive, and encouraging in our times together. Even when I feel like not much is happening in my practice, Avery has a way of noticing the positive and often suggests helpful techniques to add to my practice. I think it is fair to say that my time with Avery has been the source of growth that I would otherwise not have experienced.”
Philip Horst - Computer Programmer
“I am a long-term meditator and have worked with many kind and skillful teachers and coaches. But I never knew that I would feel this held walking on this path until I had Avery’s unwavering support.
What touches me most is Avery’s deep kindness and care. Especially in those crisis moments in my life, I am so grateful for how Avery showed up and helped me carry through with practice.
I also appreciate Avery for his: presence, gentleness, refreshing intellectual clarity, heartfelt compassion and connection, deep listening, skillful and intuitive way of interacting.
Connecting with Avery has been such a blessing and a game-changer for me from the very beginning.”
Olivia Lin - Alexander Technique Teacher
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”“It all begins with an idea. sddsfgfs.
Shinzen Young - Meditation Teacher