Empowering Your Mental Health

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The Academy of Mindful Psychology was founded to be more than just a place of study; it is a sanctuary for the cultivation of insight, awareness, and wisdom. Founded by Dr. Neil Kobrin, the Academy moves away from traditional views of the mind as a place of hidden conflict; instead honors our "true nature" as inherently compassionate and wise. By bridging decades of academic leadership with a soulful approach to human growth, the Academy provides a community where educational advancement leads to genuine transformation. Here, we don't just study the mind—we learn to flourish within it. 

Developed by Dr. Neil Kobrin, PhD, Mindful Psychology is an interdisciplinary approach that bridges the wisdom of the East with the science of the West."  It is a holistic theory of human functioning that integrates mindfulness with Western psychology, Eastern wisdom practices, research in affective neuroscience, and the exploration of spirituality and consciousness. This practical framework is designed to provide a greater understanding of the human condition, blending ancient spiritual insights with modern evidence to create a roadmap for deep, sustainable well-being. 

 “Mindfulness” is the English translation of the Pali word sati,  which also has been translated as “constant presence of mind” or “awareness.” It has been described as a “calm awareness of one’s body functions, feelings, content of consciousness, or consciousness itself.”   

Mindful Psychology supports the basic tenets of mindfulness: that of having the intent to be fully present in life and to recognize that this moment is the only moment we have. Mindfulness encourages us to be fully engaged in our life and to embrace a compassionate, non-judgmental, curious, view of ourselves and the world at large. 

Mindful Psychology represents a powerful union between Western and Eastern traditions, both of which seek to alleviate human suffering through a different lens. Much of Western psychology is based on “strengthening the ego”, theorizing that a “weak ego” is a primary cause of psychological distress. Eastern wisdom supports the belief that our mind states can significantly affect our experience of life. It supports the belief that “healthy” mind states, such as love, compassion and joy, can serve as antidotes to “unhealthy” mind states that contribute negatively to our life experience. 

Mindful Psychology incorporates the discoveries which have been made regarding how our brain functions and its relationship to the mind and our emotions. It specifically attends to findings and information revealed through the field of affective neuroscience. Affective neuroscience has been defined as “the study of the neural mechanisms of emotion. This interdisciplinary field combines neuroscience with the psychological study of personality, emotion, and mood.”  

Mindful Psychology incorporates discoveries regarding brain function and its relationship to the mind and emotions, specifically attending to findings in affective neuroscience. 

At the Academy, we focus on three life-changing realities of the human brain:

• Neuroplasticity: The ability to reshape our brain’s structure through intentional experience.
• Neurogenesis: The birth of new brain cells throughout our lives.
• Epigenetics: The way our environment and choices can influence how our genes are expressed.

 Here, you learn that your brain is not a fixed machine, but a living landscape that you can intentionally nurture and transform.

Mindful Psychology recognizes that the search for meaning is a vital part of the human experience. It is not separate from the study of the mind; it is an exploration of consciousness itself. We believe that consciousness—the profound state of being aware of ourselves and our world—is the very ground where spirituality takes root.  By cultivating "wholesome" dispositions such as love and gratitude, we dissolve the barriers of fear and judgment into a deep sense of inner joy and happiness. Ultimately, we invite you to see the "oneness" in all things, realizing that our existence only becomes truly meaningful through its relation to the world around us.