A little bit about us...
KARL DUFFY
Psychological Counsellor and Meditation teacher
Geneva Mindfulness Founder
Karl has over 40 years experience of meditation practice, firstly in Western traditions, including a 30 Day silent retreat in the Ignation tradition, and with teachers such as Anthony de Mello and Thomas Keating. In the past 13 years he practiced also in Buddhist meditation, and competed retreats with teachers such as Ajahn Sucitto, Ajahn Amaro, Larry Rosenberg, Joseph Goldstein, Christine Feldman and Sharon Salzberg and in Mindfulness meditation, with trainings by Jon Kabat Zinn, Ph.D., Saki Santorelli, Melissa Blacker and Florence Meleo-Meyer, (Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-based Professional Education and Training, University of Massachusetts Medical School), supervision by Melissa Blacker, (Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-based Professional Education and Training), and workshops with Rick Hanson Ph.D and Paul Gilbert among others.
Karl began his studies with BA’s in Philosophy and Theology and then completed a Masters in Theology in the Gregorian University in Rome, focusing on story, ritual and symbol in human lives. He has lectured on these and other subjects at University level in Ireland and Geneva. He also worked as Manager of a Social Inclusion Community Group, focusing on training and development work with unemployed and rural disadantaged groups, while at the same time, facilitating bereavement, marriage support and spirituality groups for over fifteen years on a voluntrary basis. He was also a Trainer and Facilitator in a Change Management Programme in the Irish Public Sector.
Karl completed an MA in Psychological Counseling at Webster University, Geneva. While in Switzerland he founded Geneva Mindfulness in 2009 and started running programs. He has over 1000 hours of experience in working with individuals and groups in this approach.
Karl now lives in Ireland where he sees clients, teaches and runs courses and continues to publish on his well-known blog, Mindful Balance
BIANCA KING
Psychological Counsellor and Meditation teacher
Geneva Mindfulness Lead Instructor
Bianca King is a qualified and experienced Psychological Counsellor, Meditation Teacher, and registered Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher with University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is a member of the Swiss MBSR Association.
Bianca first came across meditation in the early 1990’s and it soon became an important part of her life when she struggled with illness. She found that she needed to find inner resources when her normal, external ways of coping were no longer working. The clear awareness and emotional balance that it encourages have become part of her ongoing journey and the cornerstone to her own life and work.
The Petrea King Quest for Life Centre in Australia was where Bianca began her career in counselling for people with terminal illnesses. This is where she was formally introduced to incorporating meditation in processing life difficulties and uncertainties. It is here that her counselling and mindfulness practice connected and bloomed as she followed this path personally and professionally.
Bianca came to Geneva, Switzerland in 2008 to join her husband where they continue to reside and enjoy the magical journey of parenting with their son.
Bianca’s training and experience span both Eastern and Western perspectives on psychology and she draws upon these influences to help guide the therapeutic process and create a more powerful awareness of the benefits of mindfulness.
Her qualifications include:
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Cancer – Bangor University
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher – University of Massachusetts Medical School
- Cultivating Emotional Balance – Santa Barbara Institute of Consciousness
- Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy – University of Wales
- Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling – Australian College of Applied Psychology
- BA in Philosophy and Psychology – Griffith University Australia
Bianca is based in Geneva, Switzerland, where she regularly conducts public courses at Webster University, as well as other locations in and around Geneva. In particular, she provides mindfulness-based programs for the workplace and teaching for numerous organisations, including:
- UK Mission to the United Nations
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- International Schools of Geneva and Morges
- Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC)
- ALVEAN – Geneva
- Cereal Partners Worldwide – Nestlé and General Mills
- English Speaking Cancer Association (ESCA)
- United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
- HIS Markit – Geneva
- OAK Foundation – Geneva
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
The demands and stresses placed upon today’s workers are enormous, so learning to manage those demands and stresses effectively can have a profound and positive impact on corporate productivity and the personal happiness of individuals.
‘I was very impressed by Bianca’s flexibility and positive attitude to adapt the MBSR class
to our business context and deal with sometimes difficult circumstances to
bring the class to life.’
Cereal Partners Worldwide – Nestlé and General Mills
Bianca is deeply passionate about helping others and this is reflected in her teaching approach which is considered and personable, inspirational, tailored to her audience, and clearly reflects her wealth of global experience gathered over many years.
‘This course helped me through a very difficult time. My relationships with people in my personal life and work have been transformed –
in essence I feel much more at ease with myself. And I sleep much better!”
Anonymous
Link to CV here
To contact Bianca, please email her on: info@biancaking.ch
Bianca often collaborates with other teachers on her courses:
Collaborators
Caroline Werner
Meditation and yoga teacher, Internal Medicine
Growing up in the traditions of German Naturopathic medicine, Mind-Body interactions were an integrative part of Caroline’ s health belief system from the very beginning. During her own Medical studies she had the chance to become introduced to transcendental meditation. Connecting to inner silence through a daily meditation practice was a life changing and a very healing experience. The wish of sharing it with others was born at the same time.
She enriched her experiences through yoga, exploring christian based and eastern meditation techniques and silent retreats.
In 2009 she participated at the Mind-Body course at the Herbert Benson Institute, Harvard, which was another revealing experience. Finally her inner convictions about the benefits of meditation and the importance in medicine were confirmed by evidence based studies, and the extremely good results of a very human medicine.
Caroline absolved her training as a mindfulness instructor at the world known Center for mindfulness, Boston with Jon Kabat and his team. Through ongoing supervision, regular retreats and especially through implementing mindfulness in her daily private life and medical practice, she continues to explore the present moment day by day.
Meditation and yoga teacher, Internal Medicine
Growing up in the traditions of German Naturopathic medicine, Mind-Body interactions were an integrative part of Caroline’ s health belief system from the very beginning. During her own Medical studies she had the chance to become introduced to transcendental meditation. Connecting to inner silence through a daily meditation practice was a life changing and a very healing experience. The wish of sharing it with others was born at the same time.
She enriched her experiences through yoga, exploring christian based and eastern meditation techniques and silent retreats.
In 2009 she participated at the Mind-Body course at the Herbert Benson Institute, Harvard, which was another revealing experience. Finally her inner convictions about the benefits of meditation and the importance in medicine were confirmed by evidence based studies, and the extremely good results of a very human medicine.
Caroline absolved her training as a mindfulness instructor at the world known Center for mindfulness, Boston with Jon Kabat and his team. Through ongoing supervision, regular retreats and especially through implementing mindfulness in her daily private life and medical practice, she continues to explore the present moment day by day.
Stephen Wainwright
Meditation teacher, Humanitarian work
Stephen has been working in the humanitarian and development sphere for 25 years, and providing mindfulness-based stress reduction courses for the past seven years as a qualified MBSR instructor.
Stephen is interested in the applications of contemplative-based approaches to supporting people affected by violence, discrimination and exclusion, as well as for the well-being of those who work to support them, and has worked with the Garrison Institute and Breathe International in this area.
Christine Blom
Nurse, Yoga and Meditation teacher, Children and Adults
Christine brings together a wealth of holistic medical experience to deliver practical health promotion tools through yoga, mindfulness and first aid.
Thirty years ago Christine received her BSN in nursing at Georgetown University and went on to focus on holistic health. She followed a 1000hr massage therapy course in AZ in the 93, and after practicing yoga for many years recently studied a 200 hr YA yoga course at Yoga Moves in Nyon.
Having started practicing meditation as a teenager in her native Norway, Christine is a long time mindfulness practitioner, and has since practiced various forms of mindfulness in her life, including vipassana and MBSR.
In the last several years, Christine has been promoting mindfulness in the International school of Geneva schools where she has worked as a school nurse for 10 years. She has created a popular course called M&M – Massage and Mindfulness – for 4 to 9 year olds where she uses both of these methods as vehicles to teach presence and kindness to the children. Additionally, Christine teaches yoga at the school, seeing yoga as a wonderful way to include mindfulness in daily life.
As a nurse she sees the importance of health promotion and first aid training and is involved in both in Geneva. She is available to deliver lectures or courses in either French or English. She specializes in teaching First Aid for yoga teachers.
For further information please contact Christine – chrisblom123@gmail.com
Nurse, Yoga and Meditation teacher, Children and Adults
Christine brings together a wealth of holistic medical experience to deliver practical health promotion tools through yoga, mindfulness and first aid.
Thirty years ago Christine received her BSN in nursing at Georgetown University and went on to focus on holistic health. She followed a 1000hr massage therapy course in AZ in the 93, and after practicing yoga for many years recently studied a 200 hr YA yoga course at Yoga Moves in Nyon.
Having started practicing meditation as a teenager in her native Norway, Christine is a long time mindfulness practitioner, and has since practiced various forms of mindfulness in her life, including vipassana and MBSR.
In the last several years, Christine has been promoting mindfulness in the International school of Geneva schools where she has worked as a school nurse for 10 years. She has created a popular course called M&M – Massage and Mindfulness – for 4 to 9 year olds where she uses both of these methods as vehicles to teach presence and kindness to the children. Additionally, Christine teaches yoga at the school, seeing yoga as a wonderful way to include mindfulness in daily life.
As a nurse she sees the importance of health promotion and first aid training and is involved in both in Geneva. She is available to deliver lectures or courses in either French or English. She specializes in teaching First Aid for yoga teachers.
For further information please contact Christine – chrisblom123@gmail.com
Olga Klimecki
Psychologist, Neuroscientist, Meditator, Speaker, Educator and Trainer
Olga holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. She is currently guest professor at the Technical University Dresden, Germany and leads a team of researchers at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Olga and her team are investigating the impact of meditation training on healthy ageing, conflict resolution brain plasticity, emotions, and social behaviour. She started meditating in 2008, and now trains as a mindfulness meditation teacher with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Olga is a renowned public speaker and provides talks and in-house trainings on developing the potential of individuals, groups and organizations. Olga speaks English, German, Polish and French.
More information about Olga here.
Psychologist, Neuroscientist, Meditator, Speaker, Educator and Trainer
Olga holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. She is currently guest professor at the Technical University Dresden, Germany and leads a team of researchers at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Olga and her team are investigating the impact of meditation training on healthy ageing, conflict resolution brain plasticity, emotions, and social behaviour. She started meditating in 2008, and now trains as a mindfulness meditation teacher with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Olga is a renowned public speaker and provides talks and in-house trainings on developing the potential of individuals, groups and organizations. Olga speaks English, German, Polish and French.
More information about Olga here.
Thea McFarlane (Marais)
Psychologist, Nurse, Mindfulness teacher, Psychological Supervisor
Thea worked as a nurse & midwife before deciding to become a psychologist. In the 1990’s she did numerous trainings with Dr Elisabeth Kublër-Ross (in the USA) after which she worked to a great extent with HIV/AIDS, Cancer and terminally ill patients and their families in South Africa.
In 2003 she moved to Geneva and was a lecturer in the Psychology and Counselling Department at Webster University for the 14 years that she was in Geneva. She also worked as the head of the Counselling team for the English Speaking Cancer Association (ESCA CS) where she co-facilitated the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy groups for people with Cancer as well as co-facilitating the Bereavement groups. For the 6 years prior to leaving Geneva, she was involved in the training of volunteers at the La Maison de Tara Hospice in Geneva and ran the MBSR courses in a number of UN Organisations.
Thea moved to the UK in 2017 and has been running support groups for doctors and nurses in the Emergency Department of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and trained volunteers to assist patients and family members cope with the traumas and the stress of being in the Emergency Department. Having completed her Supervision training she is now a Clinical Supervisor in the Churchill Oncology Hospital in Oxford.
Psychologist, Nurse, Mindfulness teacher, Psychological Supervisor
Thea worked as a nurse & midwife before deciding to become a psychologist. In the 1990’s she did numerous trainings with Dr Elisabeth Kublër-Ross (in the USA) after which she worked to a great extent with HIV/AIDS, Cancer and terminally ill patients and their families in South Africa.
In 2003 she moved to Geneva and was a lecturer in the Psychology and Counselling Department at Webster University for the 14 years that she was in Geneva. She also worked as the head of the Counselling team for the English Speaking Cancer Association (ESCA CS) where she co-facilitated the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy groups for people with Cancer as well as co-facilitating the Bereavement groups. For the 6 years prior to leaving Geneva, she was involved in the training of volunteers at the La Maison de Tara Hospice in Geneva and ran the MBSR courses in a number of UN Organisations.
Thea moved to the UK in 2017 and has been running support groups for doctors and nurses in the Emergency Department of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and trained volunteers to assist patients and family members cope with the traumas and the stress of being in the Emergency Department. Having completed her Supervision training she is now a Clinical Supervisor in the Churchill Oncology Hospital in Oxford.
Mira Schneiders
Meditation Teacher and Global Health Researcher
Mira was first introduced to mindfulness in 2015 during an 8-week MBSR course with Bianca King, while working at WHO in Geneva. Finding that mindfulness practice had an enormously beneficial impact on her life and wellbeing, she has been practicing secular and Buddhist meditation since. Mira felt inspired to spread the benefits of mindfulness further, which led her to train as a MBCT teacher at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre in 2019. Since then, she has been teaching 8-week mindfulness courses and drop-in sessions to university students, doctors, and the general public. Mira has a background in Psychology, a doctorate in Population Health and works as a public health researcher at Oxford University.
Meditation Teacher and Global Health Researcher
Mira was first introduced to mindfulness in 2015 during an 8-week MBSR course with Bianca King, while working at WHO in Geneva. Finding that mindfulness practice had an enormously beneficial impact on her life and wellbeing, she has been practicing secular and Buddhist meditation since. Mira felt inspired to spread the benefits of mindfulness further, which led her to train as a MBCT teacher at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre in 2019. Since then, she has been teaching 8-week mindfulness courses and drop-in sessions to university students, doctors, and the general public. Mira has a background in Psychology, a doctorate in Population Health and works as a public health researcher at Oxford University.
International Collaborators
Mark Molony
Mark is an organisational coach and therapist who has worked extensively with the Australian Army, sporting elites and business executives. He holds a Master of Health Service Management (MHSM) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and is a registered mental health professional.
Mark is the co-founder of the internationally recognised Mindful Life Program, and has conducted mindfulness programs in both Australia and the United States.
Mark draws on his mindfulness practices regularly in his business coaching roles and has built a solid reputation—helping people achieve greater focus, well-being and performance.
More information about Mark here.
Mark is an organisational coach and therapist who has worked extensively with the Australian Army, sporting elites and business executives. He holds a Master of Health Service Management (MHSM) and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and is a registered mental health professional.
Mark is the co-founder of the internationally recognised Mindful Life Program, and has conducted mindfulness programs in both Australia and the United States.
Mark draws on his mindfulness practices regularly in his business coaching roles and has built a solid reputation—helping people achieve greater focus, well-being and performance.
More information about Mark here.
Jeremy Limpens
Jeremy is a behavioural change and stress management coach, university lecturer, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. He has spent twenty years working in health care as a senior manager, registered nurse and paramedic across fifteen countries, and holds a Master of Health and qualifications in conflict resolution, organisational psychology, counselling and mindfulness training.
Jeremy currently leads effective mindfulness-based programs and conflict for individuals, couples and groups—including corporate organisations, health care professionals, people living with cancer, and those stuck in the cycle of conflict.
More information about Jeremy here.
Jeremy is a behavioural change and stress management coach, university lecturer, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. He has spent twenty years working in health care as a senior manager, registered nurse and paramedic across fifteen countries, and holds a Master of Health and qualifications in conflict resolution, organisational psychology, counselling and mindfulness training.
Jeremy currently leads effective mindfulness-based programs and conflict for individuals, couples and groups—including corporate organisations, health care professionals, people living with cancer, and those stuck in the cycle of conflict.
More information about Jeremy here.