Cayce Howe is an American meditation teacher, poet, podcaster, and author with over 30 years of experience in a variety of traditions. He has strong ties with the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and is authorized as a teacher in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. His passion for meditation led him to live and work at meditation retreat centers for nearly six years, culminating in a year-long closed meditation retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition in 2008.

Cayce has spent a decade as the guiding teacher for InsightLA Long Beach and imparts guidance through workshops, retreats, and 1:1 sessions throughout the year. He also teaches a variety of offerings at the University of California, Irvine. He is the co-founder of the Sustainable Caring Wellness Group, a company he co-founded along with psychiatrist Dr. Monisha Vasa, that helps care for those who care for others.

His work, including his poetry and social media posts, embodies the wisdom he has gained through his years of practice. His book of poetry, “Becoming Water: Heart Path to Wisdom: Poems on Life, Love, and Awakening”, is available on Amazon. You can find him on Instagram @caycehowe.

What does a typical session with you look like?

A typical session is a mixture of a short meditation, a check-in on how the practice has been going (there is always something tangible practice-wise that my clients are working on). Then, we dive into life stuff and explore how the Dharma can relate to that, how the practice can integrate, soothe, etc. It is interactive, dynamic, and unique to each individual.

How do you approach the stigma surrounding mental health and therapy?

When it comes to mental health, there is often this idea that it defines “us”. However, we are not our ailments. None of us are broken; we simply inhabit a body that is subject to causes and conditions that are constantly changing.

What would your clients and colleagues say is your therapist superpower?

Hmm, I have had some amazing Dharma teachers in my day and have quite a bit of meditation experience. I believe this experience has enabled me to draw from my repertoire of wisdom and offer the right insights for the right moment and situation.