Tim Desmond

Psychotherapist, founder, and author. Originator of Modular Constructivism and Dialogue-Based Mindfulness Training.

Years ago, on a long retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh, a senior monk gave me one instruction: whenever suffering arises, recognize it and send it compassion. Everything I do as a therapist, founder, and author rests on that deceptively simple idea.

Simple to state, hard to do. First, we must discover the root of suffering underneath whatever challenge a person is facing. Then we must bring understanding and love to that root.

This process can be extremely complex, which is why I created the theory of Modular Constructivism to help people navigate mental objects to find the underlying constructs that maintain the energy of suffering and the direct experience that those constructs seek to explain. We use Dialogue-Based Mindfulness Training techniques to activate love and compassion, and direct them precisely where they're needed for deepest transformation.

Buddhist Practices for Overcoming Depression, book cover Buddhist Practices for Healing Trauma, book cover Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety, book cover

“A longtime meditator and skilled clinician, Tim Desmond offers exceptionally clear, accessible, and insightful guidance in how to facilitate deep transformation while addressing the spectrum of emotional suffering.”

Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge

Books

Buddhist Practices for Healing Trauma. W. W. Norton, 2026. Practices in cycles: strengthening, to be present with what happened; acceptance, to live with what you feel; transformation, to heal it in the present. With sutra study in each cycle. Tricycle: “Trauma is garbage. Yet, as any good gardener knows, garbage can be transformed into compost.”
Buddhist Practices for Overcoming Depression. W. W. Norton, 2026. The same structure, for depression.
Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety. W. W. Norton, January 2027. The same structure, for anxiety.
How to Stay Human in a F*cked Up World. HarperOne, 2019. Mindfulness for staying sane and kind when the world is neither.
The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook. W. W. Norton, 2017. A 14-Day Plan to Transform Your Relationship with Yourself. A two-week program of mindfulness practices for becoming kinder toward yourself.
Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy: Mindfulness-Based Practices for Healing and Transformation. W. W. Norton, 2015. For clinicians. Where Modular Constructivism and Dialogue-Based Mindfulness Training were first set out.

I see a small number of people for therapy and meditation coaching, in person in Oakland or remotely. What that involves, what it costs, and how to start are on the Work with Tim page.

Tim Desmond

Tim Desmond is a psychotherapist, Buddhist scholar, and best-selling author of six books, including Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy and How to Stay Human in a F*cked Up World. He is a longtime student of Thich Nhat Hanh, and the originator of Modular Constructivism and Dialogue-Based Mindfulness Training. He maintains a small private practice in Oakland, CA, and teaches around the world.