Desiree Aspiras (she/her) is an educator, therapist, and facilitator focused on integrating creativity and contemplative approaches into her work in mental health, higher education, and social justice. She believes inspiring individuals to find hope, meaning, and courage is essential to creating change, and her training and practice in meditation and contemplative approaches over the last decade inspires her to share these practices to support both personal and social transformation. She is the founder of Deep Breath Network, where she hopes to create diverse and welcoming spaces to share these practices with changemakers here in San Diego and beyond.

A few teachers who have inspired and influenced her are Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, Sará King, MA, PhD, Rhonda V. Magee, and Rev. angel Kyodo williams. Desiree is also a certified mindfulness instructor, and has coach training in the mPEAK approach (Mindfulness Performance Enhancement, Awareness & Knowledge) through UCSD’s Center for Mindfulness.

Desiree earned her Masters in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego and a BA in Political Science with a Business minor from UCLA. She currently teaches at University of San Diego and Bastyr University California.