As mental health professionals, we dedicate our time, energy, and heart to supporting others on their healing journeys. At Abhaya Wellness, we understand this work is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding, often leaving little time for your own self-care or for connecting with the very peers who understand your challenges best. We believe that building a strong, interconnected professional community is one of the most powerful ways to enhance client care and combat the burnout that is so common in our field.
To help foster these connections, our team is thrilled to invite you to our new monthly gathering: Meditate & Mingle. This is a free opportunity for professionals in helping fields throughout Durham, Orange County, and the greater Triangle area to connect, recharge, and cultivate a personal mindfulness practice in a supportive, informal setting.
What is Meditate & Mingle?
This event is a dedicated networking space for local clinicians, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals. It is designed to be a morning of community and calm, where you can engage with other local practitioners, share information about your programs and services, and strengthen the collaborative fabric of our local mental health network.
Most importantly, it’s a chance to invest in your own well-being. The morning begins with a guided meditation led by our founder, Mathew O’Connor, providing a moment of peace and a practical introduction to a skill that can transform both your personal life and clinical work.
Event Details:
- What: Meditate & Mingle: A networking space for Durham & Orange County Mental Health Professionals.
- When: Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET.
- Where: The Abhaya Wellness Office, 3710 University Dr., Ste. 100, Durham, NC 27707.
- Cost: This is a free event!
- RSVP: While not required, an RSVP will help us with planning. Reserve Your Free Spot on Eventbrite!
The Power of Mindfulness for Helping Professionals
Mindfulness is more than just a buzzword; it is an evidence-based practice with profound benefits for both personal and professional life. For those in a helping field, cultivating a mindfulness practice is a powerful tool for preventing burnout and enhancing clinical effectiveness.
Research suggests that a regular mindfulness practice can:
- Reduce stress and anxiety, helping you manage the emotional weight of your work.
- Improve focus and concentration, allowing you to be more present and attuned during client sessions.
- Strengthen emotional regulation, giving you the ability to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively to challenging situations.
- Increase self-awareness, helping you recognize your own emotional state and practice better self-care.
- Improve sleep, which is foundational to overall well-being.
By investing in your own mindfulness practice, you not only improve your own quality of life but also deepen your capacity to hold a compassionate, grounded space for your clients. This event is perfect for both beginners who are curious about mindfulness and those with an established practice who wish to connect with a community.
Meet Your Guide: Mathew O’Connor
The guided meditation will be led by Mathew O’Connor, MA, LCMHC, LCAS, CCS, the owner and founder of Abhaya Wellness. Matt is a dedicated clinician with over a decade of experience in mental health and addiction treatment. He holds a Master’s degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University, a unique background that grounds all of his work in the power of mindfulness.
Matt is passionate about sharing mindfulness not only as a powerful tool for working with clients but also as an essential component of a personal wellness journey. His dedication to high-quality, clinically driven care led him to start Abhaya Wellness, a practice built on the principles of compassion, accountability, and a fearless approach to healing.
What to Expect: A Morning of Connection and Calm
Our Meditate & Mingle event is designed to be informal and welcoming. This is a drop-in event, so you can arrive anytime between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. There is no commitment to attend every month; simply join us when your schedule allows.
The morning will begin with a gentle, guided meditation suitable for all experience levels. Afterward, there will be an optional opportunity to connect and network with other local professionals over coffee and light refreshments. It’s a chance to build relationships, learn about other services in the Durham area, and strengthen our collective ability to support the community.
Our Commitment to the Durham Mental Health Community
At Abhaya Wellness, we are a clinically owned and operated psychotherapy office that believes in creating and supporting systems of care. Our organization strives to create a mindfulness-inspired, clinically driven experience that fosters high levels of continuity of care and a strong sense of community. We believe it is our responsibility not only to serve our clients but also to support the dedicated professionals who make this work possible.
We hope you will join us on October 30th to connect, relax, and invest in yourself. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ashley at ashley@abhayawellness.com or 919-906-4390. We look forward to seeing you there.