Ways Into the Work
At Alaric’s Abbey, the work is simple, though not always easy: slow down, tell the truth, notice what keeps costing you peace, and practice meeting life differently.
Through Living Peace Coaching, Retreats & Group Practice, and Speaking & Workshops, there are a few ways into that work — whether you’re looking for personal support, meaningful community, or something to bring to your own group.
The invitation is the same: not to escape the messy business of being human, but to meet it with more peace, clarity, courage, and self-trust.
Living Peace Coaching
Grounded one-on-one support for navigating change, relationships, emotional patterns, and the places where life feels stuck. Together, we slow things down, get honest about what’s happening beneath the surface, and work toward greater clarity, steadiness, and self-trust.
Retreats & Group Practice
Sometimes insight isn’t enough. We need somewhere to practice. Gatherings at Alaric’s Abbey offer space to slow down, meditate, reflect, learn, laugh, and practice meeting life differently alongside other human beings doing the same.
Speaking & Workshops
Peace is easy to talk about. Living it when we’re hurt, reactive, overwhelmed, or convinced we’re right is a little more interesting. I offer engaging talks and workshops on Living Peace, mindfulness, emotional resilience, human connection, conflict, and the beautifully complicated work of being human.
Living Peace Coaching
Living Peace Coaching is a grounded one-on-one space to slow down, tell the truth, and look honestly at the patterns shaping your life. It is not about forced positivity, chasing someone else’s version of success, or pretending a new planner will fix what is happening underneath.
People often come to this work during periods of transition, emotional overwhelm, spiritual restlessness, relationship difficulty, or when they are tired of understanding their patterns intellectually but still living from the same old reactions. Together, we explore what is happening beneath the surface—the thoughts you keep believing, the emotions you keep carrying, the boundaries that may need clarity, and the choices asking for more courage.
My approach blends contemplative practice, Eastern philosophy, modern psychology, and the Living Peace framework. This is not clinical therapy, diagnosis, or treatment. It is practical psychospiritual coaching for people who want to reclaim their inner life and move forward with greater clarity, steadiness, and self-trust.
Pricing
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Initial 90-minute session: $225
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Ongoing 60-minute sessions: $175
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Four-session package: $640 (equivalent to $160 per session)
A limited number of reduced-rate spaces are available for those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
Retreats & Group Practice
The Abbey offers regular gatherings, meditation retreats, Living Peace teachings, workshops, and contemplative experiences designed to create a little breathing room from the usual momentum of life. Some are light and communal; others invite deeper stillness, reflection, honest conversation, and mindfulness practice.
You don’t need to be particularly spiritual, experienced at meditation, or already feeling peaceful. Come as you are. The point isn’t to escape ordinary life for a few hours; it’s to practice returning to it with greater awareness, compassion, courage, and choice.
Peace is lovely when everything is going well. The interesting part is learning how to live it when life gets weird, uncomfortable, or downright turbulent.
Pricing
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Wednesday Peace Practice: $10 drop-in
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Sunday at the Abbey: $10 suggested donation
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Retreats & workshops: pricing varies by event
Speaking & Workshops
I’ve spent much of my adult life exploring a simple question: What actually helps human beings suffer less—and create less suffering for one another? My talks and workshops bring that question into everyday life, exploring overthinking, emotional reactivity, conflict, relationships, core wounds, boundaries, mindfulness, and what happens when our first reaction gets the microphone before wisdom has even put its boots on.
Drawing from more than fifteen years of coaching, ministry, contemplative practice, and social-work education, I blend storytelling, humor, practical wisdom, and experiential practice into programs for organizations, retreats, helping professionals, schools, workplaces, and spiritual communities. I tend to teach the way I write: seriously without taking myself too seriously. Peace can have a heart, a backbone, and a decent sense of humor.
Not Sure Where to Begin?
You don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out. If something here speaks to you but you’re not quite sure which path fits, send me a note and tell me a little about what you’re looking for.
Whether that means sitting down together one-on-one, joining us at the Abbey, or bringing Living Peace to your own group or community, we can find the right place to begin.
Come as you are. We’ll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which offering is right for me?
If you’re looking for individualized support, Living Peace Coaching is usually the best place to begin. If you want to learn and practice alongside others, a retreat, workshop, or Abbey gathering may be a better fit. And if you’re looking to bring this work to a group or organization, Speaking & Workshops can be tailored to your setting.
Is this therapy or mental health treatment?
No. Alaric’s work is educational, contemplative, and coaching-based rather than clinical. Living Peace Coaching does not provide psychotherapy, diagnosis, or mental health treatment, though it can complement work you may already be doing with a licensed mental health professional.
Do I need to be spiritual or have meditation experience?
Not at all. Living Peace draws from contemplative traditions, Eastern philosophy, and modern psychology, but you are not expected to adopt a particular belief system. No meditation experience is required, and curiosity is more useful than expertise.
Can I work with Alaric if I don’t live in Durango?
Yes. Coaching and some workshops can be offered virtually, while retreats and community gatherings at Alaric’s Abbey are held in Durango, Colorado. Speaking and workshops can also be arranged for groups outside the Abbey.
What is the best way to get started?
You’re welcome to explore the offering that feels most relevant or simply reach out and share a little about what you’re looking for. If you’re not sure where to begin, Alaric can help you determine which option makes the most sense.