Speaking

Interested in booking Dr. Tara for a speaking engagement?

Kindness has the exponential power to transform how we think, feel, and behave in the world.

Those who are familiar with my work know that I am passionate about helping individuals and organizations lead meaningful and kindful lives. As an expert in mindfulness skills, positive psychology, and mind-body medicine, I know first hand that we can change our lives through practices of kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and serenity. And the science?  It’s simply proving our ancient wisdom that love heals. I want to share this prescription with the world. The 6 pillars of my work include:

• Curiosity
• Compassion
• Courage
• Connection
• Confidence
• Commitment

I can be available to give presentations in colleges, organizations, businesses, and health and wellness settings.  If you’re interested in booking, please contact me.

Sample Topics

Kindness as a Prescription for Living Your Best Life

Based on my book, The Kindness Cure, I share the relevant findings about the science of kindness and compassion; how we can make sustainable changes in our lives, encourage more kindness for individuals, teams, and organizations we work with, and how to ignite goodwill and generosity for what we stand for, even in times of hardship and uncertainty. Through specific skills and daily practices, I will help you cultivate a kinder, gentler orientation to life that dissolves feelings of fear, apathy, and stress — and ultimately help you feel more connected, courageous, and inspired.

The Secret Sauce for Success: Self-Compassion for Women

In a world that reinforces success, performance and productivity, it’s easy to habituate to high levels of stress and to lose a sense of self. This is especially so for women, who are adept at multitasking and taking care of others. While ambition, passion and motivation are key values in seeking goals and dreams, can they co-exist with a sense of inner peace, calm, and serenity? Practices of self-compassion, courage, and “kindfulness” in daily life can offset the stress response. Learn how to strengthen your resilience, confidence and purpose with certain self-care skills, that when practiced regularly, can promote positive “neuroplasticity” and build enduring positive traits.

Creating Kinder Cultures at Work

Truth be told, kindness is a good prescription for a life well lived. Kind actions and a compassionate attitude bode well for both physical and mental health. We might try to be kinder than we think we are, especially at work. Why? For one, according to research, a majority of people are miserable at their jobs even if they say they’re happy to have one. Two, we spend over 30% of our lives working. Might as well try to enjoy it, right? Third, when we behave in kind ways, the positivity that arises then spreads to others. Moreover, new leadership models show that soft skills, like mindfulness, compassion and selflessness, make for better workplaces and more engaged, productive employees. Learn how kindness works—at work.

Cultivating Resilience in the Workplace

Instinctually, women are caring, kind and compassionate people. We carry empathic traits honed over generations of caregiving and kinship that have allowed humans to survive. Yet, pressures to perform at the highest levels, strive for excellence, and also protect personal time, are unprecedented and growing. Naturally, women may feel the strain of appearing that they have it together and that work-life balance is a myth. No matter how well-educated, resourced or supported one may be—at work or at home—the demands may exceed any one’s ability to cope, leading to discontent and burnout. Certain self-defeating patterns may emerge, including negative inner dialog of never being or doing enough. The goal of Dr. Tara’s session is to redirect attention to ways of increasing self-compassion and resilience, rekindling joy in your work, and reclaiming a sense of confidence.

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Past Speaking Engagements/Workshops:

• May 7, 2020 – Webinar: Lunch with Lisa: Dr. Tara CousineauBe KIND to yourself, and take a break with us! Chat live with Lisa Nickerson and Dr. Tara Cousineau, psychologist & author of “The Kindness Cure” who will share the secrets behind the healing science of compassion. Refresh and recharge your afternoon… and your life! Time: 12:15pm ET
• October 28, 2019 – Book Signing and Discussion “The Kindness Cure” by Tara CouisneauMeet author Tara Couisneau of “The Kindness Cure: How the Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World” at The Angel Wing.
  • In The Kindness Cure, psychologist Tara Cousineau draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to teach the reader simple practices of kindness—for ourselves, for our friends and family, for our society, and for our world—that can dissolve our feelings of fear and our habits of indifference, and open us to a life of profound happiness.
  • Kindness is love in action. For more info. visit here.
• June 21, 2019 –  Ernst & Young Professional Women’s Network, Boston, MA
  • Cultivating Resilience in the Workplace – Keynote
• June 14, 2019 – Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, Middleboro, MA
  • The Ripple Effect: How One Act Can Change Everything – Keynote: Community Awards Ceremony
• May 3, 2019 – Ellevate Women & Natixis, Boston, MA
  • Cultivating Resilience in the Workplace – Instinctually, women are caring, kind and compassionate people. Women may feel the strain of appearing that they have it together and that work-life balance is a myth. The goal of Dr. Tara’s session topic is to redirect attention to ways of increasing self-compassion and resilience, rekindling joy in your work, and reclaiming a sense of confidence.
• April 29, 2019 – Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
  • Book Talk: Based on her new book, The Kindness Cure, psychologist Tara Cousineau shares some of the recent findings about the science of kindness and compassion; how we can make sustainable changes in our lives, encourage more kindness at home, school and work, and how to ignite goodwill and generosity for things we stand for in times of hardship and uncertainty.
• April 2, 2019 – Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
  • Workshop: Impostor Syndrome Series: Crushing Test Anxiety Offered to Harvard University students, this workshop offers simple strategies to cope with performance and test anxiety in a high-achieving context where many feel they can’t measure up.
• March 17, 2019 – Soul Space Meditation Studios, Canton, MA
  • Workshop: Being Kind to Yourself: The Power of Self-Compassion, Practices of self-compassion are now known to promote sustainable well-being, both psychologically, relationally and spiritually. Yet, being kind to oneself is not so easy, often the last on the self-care to-do list, and fraught with feelings of guilt, self-indulgence, doubt or judgement.  This workshop offers several simple practices to cultivate a wise and kind voice, through “kindfulness” meditation, reflection, and conversation. 
• March 3, 2019 – Worcester, MA, Northeast Conference for College Counseling Directors, annual conference
  • Keynote Conference Speaker: The Space Between: The Power of Connection, Community, and Self Care, By nature counselors are caring, kind and compassionate people. Yet, pressures on counseling centers and staff are unprecedented and growing. Counseling directors, in particular, may feel the strain of accountability given the increasing rates of suicidality and emotional pain among youth, as well as tighter budgets that negate needed training or programming. No matter how experienced or well-trained staff may be, the demands may exceed any human’s ability to cope, leading to burnout and staff turnover. Certain self-defeating patterns may emerge, including negative inner dialog of never being or doing enough. The goal of Dr. Tara’s keynote is to redirect attention to ways of increasing self-compassion and resilience, rekindling joy in your work, and setting the tone for the conference.
• December 15, 2018 – She Breathes Balance & Wellness Studio, Walpole, MA
  • A gathering of an amazing community of writers and authors at our She Breathes first annual book fair & signing event. This is a great opportunity to meet a variety of authors in person, and purchase personally signed books for yourself.
• December 6, 2018 – Centerpoint Advisors, Needham, MA
  • A holiday networking event for Centerpoint Advisor’s clients and partners; “Our goal for these breakfast events is to connect like-minds in a casual atmosphere through the introduction of industry experts who might be of relevance to some of our clients and trusted professional acquaintances. At our December breakfast, we will be hosting Psychologist and Author of The Kindness Cure: How the Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World, Tara Cousineau, PhD.”  (See Centerpoint blog post about the event)
• December 3, 2018 – Institute of Meditation and Psychotherapy, Somerville, MA
  • The Kindness Cure: Healing Your Heart and World through the Science of Compassion with Tara Cousineau, PhD: Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.” Based on her new book, The Kindness Cure, psychologist Tara Cousineau shares some of the recent findings about the science of kindness and compassion; how we can make sustainable changes in our lives, encourage more kindness for clients and organizations we work with, and how to ignite goodwill and generosity for things we stand for in times of hardship and uncertainty. Most of all, you will learn how cultivating kindness brings us profound happiness and joy.

• September 29, 2018 – Technology-Assisted Meditation Symposium at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
  • An experiential and collaborative day that embodies connection, discovery, and awareness. This symposium will include panel and group discussions, movement, reflection and interactive experiences related to ethics, safety, innovation, outcomes, and impact on development of children and teens. Dr. Tara discusses the intersection of mindfulness and technology among youth.
• August 14, 2018 – Sudbury, MA, Barre3 Studio
  • Self-Kindness Workshop – Treating yourself as you would treat a loved one or someone you care for who is struggling is a profound act of self-kindness. It’s also hard to do. This workshop introduces three practices of self-compassion to take into daily life.
    
• June 5, 2018 – Book Talk, The Kindness Cure at Milton Public Library, Milton, MA
  • Introducing the The Kindness Cure: How the Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World. The book was inspired locally and blends story and science on how kindness and compassion can change us from the inside out and lead to profound joy.
• March 8, 2018, Whil.com Workplace Webinar Series, San Fransisco, AC, and online (on demand: https://get.whil.com/kindnesscure)
  • The Kindness Cure:  A Prescription for Engaged and Successful Workplaces – There is a paradigm shift in leadership. New research from Harvard Business Review and The Potential Project has found that the three most impactful qualities in leadership are mindfulness, selflessness and compassion. It’s time to cultivate kind work cultures, both from the top down and bottom up, to transform companies from the inside out. In this webcast, Dr. Tara Cousineau will discuss:
  • What are empathy and compassion and why leaders should prioritize them
  • How to apply kindness in the workplace as part of its culture
  • Why kindness, at the individual level, is key to well-being and happiness
  • See also guest blog post: Leading with a Kind Mind

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