AtEssence is a sacred container for healing, awakening, and integration. Through Compassionate Inquiry (developed by Gabor Maté), trauma healing, ancestral connection, and integration practices, you will reconnect with your deepest self and step into your wholeness & authenticity.

Here your growth is honored, your healing is sacred, and your essence is remembered.

My Promise: You will receive honest, compassionate care. I will not try to “fix” you, but rather support you in discovering your own return to wholeness, authenticity, purpose, and joy. With my years of study, experience, and the guidance of energetic allies, I fully trust in our human capacity to heal.

It is with this unwavering trust and inspiration that I look forward to walking alongside you on your journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation.

Studies & Experience

Hi, my name is Kiera. I have studied, taught, and actively used the principles of Chinese Medicine, Psychotherapy, Ayurveda, plant medicines, Classical Hatha Yoga, meditation, and essential spiritual teachings for over 25 years in my life and in my professional interactions with those I work with. My journey in these fields has allowed me to gain valuable insights and share this knowledge with others in deeply meaningful and transformative ways.

My studies and deep passion for understanding how the unconscious beliefs we hold and the resulting separation from our authentic selves manifest in both our mental and physical imbalances eventually led me to the fortunate opportunity of meeting two truly extraordinary teachers whom I study with to this day. One of these remarkable individuals is Dr. Gabor Maté, a pioneering figure in his unique method of healing, which is based on a profound synthesis of ancient wisdom coupled with modern scientific research in the realms of trauma and neurobiology. Since becoming certified in 2019, the application of his technique known as Compassionate Inquiry has genuinely transformed my own life, as well as the lives of countless clients all over the world. As my knowledge and experience in the healing profession have expanded, I have also become increasingly aware of how our relationship with Nature is not just beneficial but foundational to our healing on personal, societal, and global levels. This growing awareness ultimately led me to discover the teachings of Andean healer, Puma Quispe Singona. All of these methodologies, while seemingly distinct on the surface, carry the same fundamental truths. They provide various languages and pathways that guide us back to our ultimate healing. This journey is about uncovering and reconnecting with our essential and authentic selves, our true essence of nature.

I hold a Masters degree in Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences in Oakland, California and a Bachelors Degree in Cultural Anthropology with an emphasis in women's/gender studies & religion from San Francisco State University. I obtained my Acupuncture license in 2004 from the state of California. I am a certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, CI Circle Leader, Integration coach, Non-Dual Dharmic Counselor, Primal Ayurveda Health Advisor and Adi-Yoga instructor. I am also a graduate of Dharma Inc’s 7-year Tantrik Yoga Studies Program and have spent decades immersed in daily practice of many essence traditions. I am extremely grateful for all of the remarkable teachers I have had and feel extremely blessed to have received formal teachings & initiation from Puma Quispe Singona (Andean lineage holder and global healer - founder of NoqanKani), Dharma Bodhi (Kashmiri Shaivite lineage holder & founder of Trika Institute), HH Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (world wide spiritual leader of Tibetan Yung Drung Bon) and Liu Ming (WuWei Daoist lineage holder & founder of Da Yuan Circle).

Personal Background

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California, exploring both my inner and outer worlds with a healthy mix of trepidation and wonder about the fast-changing terrain around and within me. I moved around, seeking out diverse spiritual paths and healing practices from many corners of the world. Ultimately, I found something essential in the classical Non-Dual healing and spiritual systems of Asia, as well as the native earth-based traditions of the Americas.

In 2002, after returning to the Bay Area, I opened a yoga studio in Berkeley, CA, where I helped run the studio’s operations and trainings. In 2004, after receiving my acupuncture license, I began my personal practice there. Following the birth of my first child in 2008, we sold the studio and moved to the hills of Northeastern Thailand to open a yoga, meditation, and permaculture retreat center. I spent eight years there running retreats and immersing myself in daily teachings and formal practice before moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

In Chiang Mai, I independently opened Trika Eco Villa, a smaller rural retreat center focused on yoga, meditation, permaculture, and healthcare. In 2015, I founded AtEssence, my private healing practice, where I integrate knowledge from these profound ancient sciences.

In July 2017, I relocated to Costa Rica with my partner and two children. As a steward of a majestic piece of river land, I continued working with in-person and online clients, nurturing a thriving practice of healing and connection.

As of 2024, I’m living the camper life, traveling across the U.S. so my children can experience American schools and culture firsthand. I continue to deepen my work as a mesa carrier and healer, traveling frequently to Peru, facilitating online and in-person retreats, pilgrimages, and workshops, and supporting clients globally.

When I’m not guiding others, I immerse myself in personal practice, reading everything from spiritual texts to the latest scientific research, exploring the world through travel, and deepening my connection with the awe-inspiring natural world. I cherish connecting with fellow humans in the shared work of healing, growth, service, and upliftment for all.