Matthew Brensilver, PhD
Matthew Brensilver teaches at the Insight Retreat Center, Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Society. He was previously program director for Mindful Schools and for more than a decade, was a core teacher at Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. Matthew worked as a clinical social worker, serving severely and persistently mentally ill adults. He subsequently earned a PhD from the Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at USC. His dissertation examined the mechanisms of risk and resilience in maltreated adolescents in a large, longitudinal study in South Los Angeles. Before committing to teach meditation full-time, he spent years doing research on addiction pharmacotherapy at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine. Each summer, he lectures at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center on the intersections between mindfulness, science and psychotherapy. He serves on the Board of Directors at Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Center.
Upcoming Programs by Matthew Brensilver, PhD
Freedom Within Reach: Real Awakening in Ordinary Life (CL1D25)
Also Cara Lai, MA
Register for Online Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online. Registration closes at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 27, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program. Program to be held on the land and online! Description: The […]
Freedom Within Reach: Real Awakening in Ordinary Life (CL1Z25)
Also Cara Lai, MA
Register for On-Land Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online. Registration closes at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 27, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program. Description: The attainment of enlightenment has a hallowed place in Buddhism. […]
Young Adult Retreat (246R25) - On Land
Also Cara Lai, MA, Vinny Ferraro and Hakim Tafari
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on February 19, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on August 9, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. Needing a scholarship? - see Scholarship offerings information below. Retreat to be held on […]
Monday Night Meditation & Talk (33ML25)
Registration closes at 7:30pm (US Pacific Time) on Monday, August 18, 2025. A recording* will be available following the program. If you would like access to the recording, you must register by the deadline above. Closed Captioning [CC] is available for this program. Online via Zoom. Description: For over 35 years, the Monday Night sitting […]
Buddhist Psychology Training (BPT6) - Fall 2025
Buddhist Psychology Training: Integrating Mindfulness, Science, and Clinical Practice Prerequisites General Prerequisite: Completion of at least one silent multi-day residential or multi-day online Insight Meditation retreat recommended by the start of the program (e.g. Spirit Rock, IMS, IRC, etc.) Professional Prerequisite: This program is designed with mental health professionals in mind, but is open to […]
Fall Insight Meditation Retreat (272R25) - On Land
Also Tuere Sala, JD, Eugene Cash, devon hase and Hakim Tafari
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on February 19, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. Needing a scholarship? - see Scholarship offerings information below. Retreat to be held […]
Tranquility and Insight: The Path to Inner Peace (300R26) - On Land
Also Dana DePalma, MA, MFT and Ying Chen, PhD
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on January 17, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. In need of a scholarship? - see "Scholarship offerings" information below. Retreat to be […]
Spring Insight Retreat (318R26) - On Land
Also Brian Lesage and Tuere Sala, JD
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on April 29, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. In need of a scholarship? - see "Scholarship offerings" information below. Description All the […]
Wisdom and Love (336R26) - On Land
Also Vinny Ferraro
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on June 26, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. In need of a scholarship? - see "Scholarship offerings" information below. Description For generations, […]
Young Adult Retreat (346R26) - On Land
Also Cara Lai, MA, Vinny Ferraro and Hakim Tafari
Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on July 15, 2025, and closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on August 3, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? - learn more below. In need of a scholarship? - see "Scholarship offerings" information below. Designed for Young […]