January 2026

WELCOME BACK!

CBR Community

As the new year unfolds, I want to welcome you back to the Contemplative-Based Resilience newsletter. Since this is our first newsletter in quite some time, let me take a moment to introduce myself: I’m Carlos Rodarte, the new Director of CBR.

Over these past months, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with many of you—our cross-sector community of helping professionals. Through these conversations and reflection, we’re building on and continuing to serve high-needs sectors across diverse fields, while also directing significant energy toward healthcare—adapting aspects of our programming for the particular contexts healthcare workers and caregivers navigate.

WHAT’S NEW

Enhancements to ABCs of Resilience

Through listening to program participants, we’ve learned more about what is supportive, and we’ve responded. Our ABCs of Resilience program, originally created by Buddhist meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg (our spiritual advisor) and Garrison Institute co-founder Diana Calthorpe Rose, now includes several new components that make it even more comprehensive and responsive to the realities of your work.

• Integration Module: Because learning practices is one thing; weaving them into your actual life, well that’s something else. This module helps you find tactics and approaches—practical ones you can use—to integrate what you’ve learned into your daily routine, whether you’re at work, at home, or navigating those inevitable moments when life throws you a curveball. The question we address here is not just what to practice, but how to sustain practice amidst everything else.
• Leadership Coaching: We now offer small group coaching that blends the ABCs practices with the values and culture of your specific organization. This bridges the gap between your inner work and your workplace reality; it’s about bringing contemplative practice into the structures and systems where you actually spend your days.
• Scenario Vignettes Library: Real talk: workplace conflicts happen. We’ve developed a collection of communication vignettes—situational descriptions with emotional tension—designed for both personal reflection (“what would I do in this scenario?”) and group discussion. These help surface your individual approaches to conflict and offer pathways to move through challenging situations more skillfully. They’re less about having the “right answer” and more about building awareness of how you respond under pressure.
• More Accessible Formats: We recognize that not every organization can commit to a six-month engagement. We’ve adapted our core programming into a condensed 4-week format, and we also offer half-day sessions for organizations just beginning to build a culture of compassion and resilience.

These enhancements emerged directly from what participants told us they needed. If any of this resonates with your organization’s needs, I’d welcome hearing from you at carlos@garrisoninstitute.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Resilience Retreat for Healthcare Workers & Caregivers
Jan. 29 | 1:00-4:00pm ET | Virtual

When you spend your days caring for others, where do you find care for yourself? This 3-hour restorative retreat offers healthcare workers, clinicians, and family caregivers a chance to pause, learn evidence-based practices, and connect with peers who understand. Led by our certified CBR Faculty, you’ll experience the ABCs of Resilience framework through guided practices, psycho-education, and small group connection. CBR faculty for this program include Sarina Saturn, Chiai-Ti Chiu, Jennifer Winther, and Yikai Xu. No prior meditation experience needed.

Monthly Resilience Circle
January 20 | 12:00-1:00pm ET | Virtual

Our drop-in Resilience Circles provide a restorative midday pause for helping professionals. Each session offers guided meditation, mindful movement, and reflective discussion about stress, burnout, and emotional sustainability. Join when you can; there’s no requirement for ongoing participation. This month’s resilience circle features certified CBR Faculty, Carolina Lasso.

CBR Community Council

We’re forming a CBR Community Council made up of program participants who will help shape future offerings and provide guidance on how we can better serve this community. If you’ve participated in any CBR retreat, training, or Resilience Circle and want to deepen your involvement, we welcome your application. Council members will meet quarterly to reflect on programming, share what’s working in their own practice and organizations, and help us stay responsive to community needs.

JOIN US

An Invitation

This newsletter is one way we’re staying in touch, but there’s much more happening in the CBR community. Stay tuned as we share workforce research, webinars, and ways to strengthen community. In the meantime, I encourage you to join a Resilience Circle, register for the January 29 retreat, or reach out directly if you’d like to explore how CBR might serve your organization.

With gratitude,
Carlos Rodarte
Director, Contemplative-Based Resilience
carlos@garrisoninstitute.org

Enjoy our February CBR Newsletter!