Virtual Meditation Room

Stanford's Early Life Stress and Resilience Proagram in partnership with Pure Edge, Inc. will be hosting a live daily 30min guided meditation conducted by Dr. John Rettger and Anne Contreras, Monday - Friday from 1 pm - 1:30 pm.  

Link to Virtual Room (requires download of zoom application)>>

Meet our Meditative Guidance

John Rettger, Psychologist, Ph D
PSY27863

I completed the doctorate in clinical psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP) in Palo Alto, California in 2011. I have been licensed with the California Board of Psychology since 2015. At ITP, my studies and research concentrated on psychotherapy approaches that integrate contemporary Western psychological diagnostic and treatment approaches with Eastern contemplative traditions such as Buddhism and Yoga. I completed my Post-Doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine’s Early Life Stress Research & Pediatric Anxiety Program (ELSPAP). I stayed nearly 9 years at Stanford cultivating expertise on pediatric Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as implementing Mindfulness and Yoga in educational and non-profit settings. I directed the ELSPAP’s Mindfulness programming, authored and co-authored numerous related publications, co-edited the book Applied Mindfulness: Approaches in Mental Health for Children and Adolescents, and taught courses at Stanford in developing Mindfulness-based leadership skills. In conjunction with my training and work at Stanford, I am also an advanced trainee at the International Institute of Humanistic Studies where I have been training in Existential-Humanistic Psychology for more than 10 years. Learning this perspective enables me to join you where you are as we work together to navigate your specific concerns as well as exploring the inevitable challenges all humans encounter such as meaninglessness, death and dying, loneliness, and the responsibility that comes with making impactful life decisions.  In addition, I am privileged to have had training as a Gottman Couples Therapist.  Gottman Couples Therapy is the only evidence-based couples therapy.  During treatment with me you will learn applicable skills that de-escalate conflict, improve your intimacy and friendship, strengthen commitment and trust, and create shared meaning in your life.

​My clinical experience is diverse in that I have worked with children, adolescents and adults across the lifespan from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. These individuals were seeking support for anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, substance abuse recovery, grief, coping with illness and other challenging life changes.

In my psychotherapeutic approach, I integrate evidence-based treatment approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with modern holistic approaches including Mindfulness and Yoga-based practices. I aim to include the whole person in therapy. This means that my focus is on your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. As my client, you can expect to learn effective skills, such as breathwork, meditation, guided relaxation and imagery, and mindfulness to apply in your everyday life and gain the support you need to cope with challenging situations, thoughts and emotions. My goal is to assist you on your journey toward greater awareness, acceptance, fulfillment, freedom and love.

Anne Contreras, MACP, MFTi

Anne is the Director of Programs and national trainer for Pure Edge, Inc., whose work centers around supporting social-emotional learning (SEL) toward whole child development.  Our organization provides trainings in the instruction of self-regulation tools to best equip public education communities in dealing with the many stressors that can be part of our education system.  

Anne holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (focus: global development in South & SE Asia) and is certified in Advanced Group Therapy Process.  She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Psychology, Trauma/Systems Services Concentration – Global Crisis Informed Care

Anne has practiced Vipassana meditation under the auspice of assistant teachers to Acharaya S.N. Goenka for the last fifteen years.  She is certified in Mindfulness-Based Stress Management (MBSR) and participated in a year-long Meditation Facilitator program through the former, Against the Stream Institute in Southern California.  She spent close to a month in residence at the all-female, Songdhammakalyani Monastery in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand under the direction of Abbess, Venerable Dhammanada Bhikkhuni of the Theravadan Buddhist tradition.

Anne has practiced yoga since 1995, certified as a teacher in 2002 and has taught since 2009 both in the Bay Area and internationally.  During a year-long stint in SE Asia, she facilitated individual & group therapy as well as taught/practiced yoga and meditation instruction at hospitals, educational institutions, wellness-retreat centers and yoga studios. 

She was born/raised in San Francisco and currently lives in the South Bay.