Cassandra Vieten

Spirituality, transformative experiences, mindfulness and the science of imagination are the research interests of clinical psychologist Cassandra Vieten. Her PhD in clinical psychology comes from CIIS, the California Institute of Integral Studies, and she trained in behavioural genetics research at the University of California, San Francisco. For many years she worked at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, serving as President from 2013 to 2019 and remains a Senior Fellow, and she later led the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation. At UC San Diego she is a Clinical Professor and directs the Center for Mindfulness.

She brings research and practice together in her teaching. Through workshops at places such as Esalen, as well as talks and online courses, she explores how people change, how imagination shapes our thoughts, feelings and actions, and how meditation and contemplative practice can become part of everyday life. Imagine That looks at the science of imagination; Living Deeply, written with Marilyn Schlitz and Tina Amorok, studies transformation across traditions; and Spiritual and Religious Competencies in Clinical Practice, with Shelley Scammell, sets out guidelines for therapists. She teaches on The Shift Network as well.