Perhaps you searching for a sense of balance, meaning and connection in your precious life ~
A way to gather yourself from distraction, feel grounded, and find clarity of mind.
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It's not hard to find yourself pulled off centre and feeling like you want to locate a sense of steadiness and ease in this world - A longing to reconnect with your basic goodness and love for life.
You are not alone in your search. Life is precious. Let's not miss it.
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This little website is in the midst of rebuild mode. In the meantime, if you have inquiry around psychotherapy sessions, chaplaincy session, education/workshops or retreats, please do reach out.
ABOUT
I am a mother, pyschotherapist, non-religious Buddhist chaplain, meditation, somatics and embodiment teacher. Currently I work with physicians and healthcare workers around moral injury, healing, compassionate frameworks and rebuilding systems of trust. I am also a chaplain with the University of British Columbia, and a lay ordained meditation teacher with the Stillwater Zen Community in weekly practice and annual retreats.​
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Check out some of the amazing people and organizations I love working along side. Curious about collaborating? Please do send a note.
MEDITATION & Resurrecting Goodness in the Body, Heart & Mind
I am deeply appreciative for practices & techniques that help us understand our minds, bodies and hearts. Embodiment is at the centre of my approach. Stepping into a full experience of how we are in the world, the feeling of being in a body, remembering its innate goodness, freedom, liberation and creative potential. As we come to understand the world around us and the stories we’ve been told, we see that our perspective of reality often limits how we see and experience ourselves, each other, and what we believe is important and precious. Instead of the bodies and minds being a problem to overcome, our bodies and minds can be the very place where we feel most alive, the seat of our connection and wisdom. All of this brings us in closer to a sense of self, purpose, meaning, people, community and life.
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I have am just finishing a thesis and working with our local physicians during an intense call for change and support. The next stretch of months offer some space and ease to rest and write in creative ways. It's true! I will lead another retreat at Stowel Lake Farm next June (2026) with Elena Brower. A deep dive into Women & Zen. Registration will open in the fall.
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I offer a variety of ways to enter meditation, contemplative practices and compassionate frameworks by offering education, workshops and practice series. I am also an education chaplain in residence with Third Space Charity, The University of British Columbia Okanagan and visiting education chaplain & psychotherapist with Interior Health and Kelowna General Hospital.​
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This September, I am available for psychotherapy or chaplaincy/spiritual care sessions on-line & in person.
The fall Stillwater Zen Community will also offer fall practice period on Wednesday nights beginning in September.
Supporting Physician Program
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An 8 week program generously funded by Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.
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Cultivating compassion, responding to burnout, moral despair, and working with systems under enormous pressure.
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with Melissa & Dr. Alysha MacKenzie-Feder
Fall Meditation Series
Domestic Monastery
Meditation & Tea
Sept - Nov 2024
Wed 7-8 a.m.
Meditation & Zen Buddhist Study 1st Wed of each month
6:30 - 8 pm
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register at melissaberryappleton@gmail.com
*by donation
ALINDA MICHAEL
Brian and Melissa role model presence and respect in their language, in their way of being. I’m a nurse and I’ve worked with people my whole life; I consider myself someone who’s very respectful of people. So to meet two people who are on whole other level, I really appreciate it a lot. That’s where I want to be.
DR. DAVID KATES
"I’m looking forward to taking what I learned here and continuing on. I feel inspired to make some changes with my work schedule and my self-care. I’d like to do more yoga, meditation, reading. Those changes will have an impact on my practice, and will make me more human to my patients."
LINA TURESKI
I learn a lot on retreat, both from the planned program and the people who attend. Some retreats are about rest, some are more about being in community. They’re always about taking a break from daily life to build skills, rest, and work on things in an intentional way without distraction.