Category: Private Mentors

This page lists approved Compassionate Inquiry Private Mentors, whom you may contact for individual or group mentoring for additional mentoring sessions. Whether you are in the Professional Training, are preparing for a Certification Review, or for the supervision sessions required during your first two years of practice as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner; please discuss the rate for mentoring directly with your chosen mentor.

The private mentors listed on this page have completed a 30-hour Supervision Training, and have been approved by the Compassionate Inquiry Mentoring Internship Team.

This page does not refer to the Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship Program, which can be found in the menu under Online Training.

Tatjana Ivkovic

Private Mentor, Counselling Therapist

It is my pleasure to work with you as your Mentor on this Compassionate Inquiry
journey, whether you are in the CI year-long program, mentorship, or working towards
your certification process.

While our mentor-mentee relationship is not therapy, I believe it to be therapeutic.
My mission is to establish a compassionate space based on mutual trust and safety,
where we will collaborate to achieve your personal and professional goals, as well as to
enhance, deepen, and expand your embodiment of CI competencies and skills.
My supervision style is whole-person-centered and collaborative, drawing on nearly a
decade of experience as a supervised therapist to provide valuable insights and
expertise, 20 years of experience as a manager and mentor supervising young people
in the fashion industry, and more than 30 years of psychology study and experiential
trauma therapy as part of my own healing journey.

I am a licensed Non-Directive Interventional (NDI) Psychotherapy Mental Health
Counsellor and Focusing Therapist, a certified Mentor and Practitioner of
Compassionate Inquiry, and have completed, among others, Clinical Supervision
Training, to prepare me to mentor others. I work in my private practice, providing
counseling services through both in-person and online sessions.
Passionate with Dr. Gabor Matés teachings, I see Compassionate Inquiry
metaphorically as “the missing piece in the therapeutic puzzle, that I was looking for
many years and finally found it”.

I am committed to supporting you in cultivating the confidence, skills, presence, and
compassion for yourself and your clients, surrounding you with trust, acceptance,
confidence, authenticity, and assisting you in flourishing professionally and personally.

See their practitioner bio here.

Location: Chania, Greece
Email: [email protected]

Tiph Fedor

Therapist, Private Mentor

Tiph started her journey as an energy healer over 30 years ago and is a registered Counsellor and Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner.

She is a certified Mindfulness Practitioner, having trained with Eckhart Tolle and uses her ability to hold deep presence with her skills as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner to support people through their journey of trauma to a place of authentic connection with themselves.

Tiph has her own private practice based in the Herefordshire countryside and works with couples and individuals from around the world.

She is deeply committed to her own process and that of her clients and sees her journey of self development as being intertwined with her work as a therapist.

She believes that the spiritual journey is deeply connected to working through trauma and that the two happen in conjunction with each other.

She has completed the Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship programme and is looking forward to continuing her journey within the Compassionate Inquiry community.

Alex Maizuss

Private Mentor
I am Alex Maizuss, I am a dedicated Compassionate Inquiry practitioner and work as a mindfulness-based personal development coach, with a deep commitment to supporting others in their personal and professional growth.

My journey began with my own search for training programs to help me navigate the challenges of living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

After studying Dr. Gabor Mate’s teachings on my own for several years, I was accepted into the CI year-long training program in 2020. Since then, I have become a certified compassionate inquiry practitioner, facilitator, and mentor, with training in Hakomi and certifications in MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), mPEAK (Mindful Performance, Awareness, and Knowledge), and Basics in Clinical Supervision.

My approach to mentoring is based on mutual collaboration, providing guidance and support to practitioners in training, seeking certification, and pursuing career goals. I am also a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee trained by The National Coalition Building Institute – NCBI for Compassionate Inquiry.

I am honored to have been an early contributor to the USC Center for Mindfulness Science and currently serve on its steering committee. Mindfulness is at the foundation of all my work, as I focus on the application of mindfulness interventions for healthcare, research, and psychedelic integration.

My passion for mentoring stems from my own experiences and the transformative power of compassionate inquiry, and I look forward to supporting others on their own journey of growth and discovery.

In my free time, I enjoy connecting with nature through gentle walks or reading a book under a tree.

Email: [email protected]

Diana Safta

Private Mentor, Psychotherapist

Besides being a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner (working intensely with this approach) and a Private Mentor, I am an active Psychologist and Psychotherapist, with a master’s degree in clinical psychology.

As a background, I’ve studied different others psychological approaches – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, Couples Therapy, Transgenerational Therapy, Systemic Therapy, and have developed competencies through dozens of different courses, workshops, silent retreats, mindfulness, meditations and books, as I am a “learning addict”.

I’ve started the CI program in Jan 2019, being in the first cohort and then following all the programs that CI had to offer, in order to refine my skills more and more: 3 internships, 1 mentorship, 2 mentoring internships, a clinical supervision course, the ‘’Suicide Prevention’’ course, ‘’Diversity, Equity, Inclusion’’ course, 2 CI Circles, and had done and still doing a lot of personal therapy as ‘’ You are only able to meet others as deeply as you’ve met yourself.’’ I was also grateful to be part of the team which organized an event for the CI community in Europe, in Budapest, in 2022, meeting in person many of the CI participants, coming from more than 22 countries.

Coming from a place of experiencing an immense fear of being evaluated and of not being ‘good enough’, I now consider the Mentoring sessions not only powerful, but also empowering for the mentees. I think all the experience I got in the CI programs is now shared with openness, curiosity, and compassion with each person I get the chance to meet.

The passion I have for the CI approach comes from experiencing it in all the possible ways and seeing it’s amazing healing power!

Looking forward to connecting online via Zoom and possibly in person, in Bucharest, Romania.

Email: [email protected]

Alexandra MacKay

Private Mentor, MSW RWS

My intention, as a Compassionate Inquiry Mentor, is to support you in fulfilling your personal and professional goals.  This includes deepening and expanding your knowledge of the CI Skills and Competencies inclusive of unfolding and evolving relational processes.  Whether you are currently in the year long CI program, the mentorship, certifying or re certifying, my aim is to assist you in building competence and confidence in the CI process.

My philosophy is person-centered and collaborative, based on a mentor-mentee relationship where safety is the foundation, trust is established, compassion is present, creating the conditions for growth and learning to flourish.

I was introduced to Gabor’s book “In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts…” in 2010, while working at a mental health and addictions community agency.  I first met Gabor in 2014 when he presented on the topic of addictions and mental health in Belleville, Ontario.  I was moved and inspired by his compassion and humanity.  In 2019 I learned about the compassionate inquiry year-long program and this is when my CI journey began. My passion for this work led me continue in this path towards finding our authentic selves.  Currently I am a CI Practitioner, CI Facilitator, CI Circle Leader, and CI Mentor.

On a professional level, I completed a Supervision training with Lois Ehrmann, PhD, LPC, NCC/ACS, online in 2021.  I have also completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology and International Studies.  I graduated from the University of Toronto in 2010 in social work, specializing in their Children and Families program. In 2018, I completed a Certificate in Couple and Family Studies from the University of Guelph, a program offered by the Ontario Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (OAMFT).  I have worked in non-profit mental health and addiction community agencies since 2005.  Currently I work part-time in private practice and part time in the outpatient mental health department in Hospital, where I facilitate the mindfulness group, as well as working with individual clients.

Personally, I was drawn to compassionate inquiry and continue to work on bringing awareness to core beliefs, behaviours and emotions stored in the body as a result of my experiences of trauma, including having experienced the unexpected loss of a parent in childhood.  Bringing compassion and acceptance to all parts and “attention to the tension,” has helped me move towards wholeness.  Currently I live with my husband and two adolescent children, our dog and cat.  I enjoy nature, animals, swimming, yoga, singing, dancing, traveling as well as relaxing.

Location: Ontario, Canada
Email: [email protected]

Tamara Kowalska

Private Mentor

We are all headed toward increased consciousness even though it doesn’t always appear that way. I have gained this understanding through CI and it has made all the difference. As a mentor, I can assist CI practitioners navigate their way through the terrain of setting and reaching personal and professional goals. But more importantly, I wish to share the gift of awareness of perception.

I received my CI certification in August 2022 and qualified as a private mentor in March, 2023. I am currently an intern with the year-long training as well as with the short course. And I have attended the CI Circles and the Suicide Attention training as well as the Beyond Addiction course with Sat Dharam Kaur. I presented my spoken word poetry at the first annual CI conference in Vancouver, November 2022.

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Email: [email protected]

Monika Guillemin Weiglová

Psychologist, Private Mentor

My intention as a Compassionate Inquiry mentor is to help you uncover the unconscious drivers and access your inner wisdom by focusing on the present moment. As I learnt a lot on my way of being psychologist for almost two decades and years in compassionate inquiry training, I love to share with you my knowledge and understanding of the modality.

I am honoured to provide a safe, non-judgemental space and my full presence for you to be able to explore your intention and discuss what you need as a therapist. What might be possibly on the way for you to be a clear mirror for your clients. Because I believe that deepening our self awareness helps us become that clear mirror so clients’ essence can then appear and they can be led by it.

I am a psychologist, certified kundalini yoga teacher and enjoying incorporating art, imaginations and body work in my practice with clients. Besides being a certified Compassionate Inquiry practitioner I am as well trained in psychotherapy based on Jungian analytical psychology (Guided Affective Imagery). Currently, I am in final stages to be certified as a trauma-informed art therapist.

In my private practice I am offering programs about conscious parenting and emotional development. Via zoom, I lead a group or individual therapies. I am looking forward to working with you and supporting you in your journey. Compassionate inquiry feels for me like a home approach and I enjoy in general connecting ancient wisdom with the modern neuroscience perspectives to restore balance and become whole again.

I will do all my best to support you in enjoying this journey too.

Email: [email protected]

Joakim Appell

As a mentor in the Compassionate Inquiry Training I’ve undergone extensive training in this modality and have a deep understanding of the principles and techniques involved.

No matter if you’re in the year-long training, mentorship or certifying/recertifying my aim for us is to co-create a safe and supportive space where we can explore first your intention and then possibly potential emotional and mental blocks that might prevent you as a therapist from fully engaging with your inner selves and be present in sessions and to yourself. Both individuals as well as groups are welcome.

The body, brain and mind aligned together hold the answer and the capacity to heal from trauma.

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Email: [email protected]

Priya Duggal

Private Mentor, Naturopathic Doctor

As a Compasionate Inquiry Mentor, my intention is to support you towards Compassionate Inquiry Certification and in enhancing your understanding of CI skills and processes. My supervision style is collaborative, supervisee-centered, with safety and mutual trust being of utmost importance. I intend to meet you where you are in your CI learning curve.

I consider Compassionate Inquiry my “IKIGAI” – a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, or brings joy. I am passionate to help others live their authentic life as I, myself, continue in this pursuit. I consider myself fortunate to have an opportunity to practice my passion in different roles as a Ci practitioner, Ci facilitator, Ci educator, Ci circle leader and Ci mentor.

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Location: Vaughan, ON. Canada
Email: [email protected]

Ildiko Acs

Psychologist

Ildi has twenty years of experience in Human Resources in the corporate world. Her unhealthy attachment to work and her commitment to understand her own destructive behaviors led her to CI, where she was looking for answers until discovering her authentic self with the support of the caring and compassionate CI community. Her biggest challenge was self-compassion and be aware of her own suffer in which the CI approach was transformational for her as CI turned her focus inward, and she was able to notice her thoughts, feelings, sensations in a non-judgmental and curious way.

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Location: Budapest, Hungary