Heather Shaughnessy-Cato, MA, NBC-HWC
Self-Compassion Coach
I’m a certified coach and teacher, weaving together self-compassion, mindfulness, yoga, and practices for well-being, based in Brunswick, Maine.
My work is shaped by clinical training and years of teaching and coaching experience — and informed, more than anything, by my own relationship with self-compassion.
How I came to this work
I first encountered self-compassion as a clinician — learning the research, the practices, bringing it to the students I worked with at Vassar. I could see what it did for them. How it shifted something.
And I quickly recognized how much I needed it myself. I was navigating a significant period of disruption — professionally and personally — and meeting it with criticism rather than care. I had learned, somewhere along the way, to carry difficulty quietly.
Self-compassion invited something different. It invited me to hold what was hard with warmth rather than judgment — to meet my own struggles with the same care I offered others so readily.
I found that most fully at a Mindful Self-Compassion retreat — a room full of people willing to be honest about what was hard, without falling apart. That experience became central to both my life and my work.
Why self-compassion
I’m drawn to this work because it has been essential in my own life — and continues to be.
Self-compassion is not about bypassing difficulty or pretending things are fine. It’s about bringing our struggles into the light — meeting them with honesty, with care, and with the knowledge that we are not alone in them.
Self-compassion isn’t soft. It’s one of the most evidence-based, practical tools I know for building resilience, shifting self-criticism, and staying steady under pressure. I care deeply about how these practices translate into real moments — when things are hard, when decisions feel heavy, or when insight alone isn’t enough.
The willingness to name what’s hard — and meet it with kindness rather than criticism — changes something fundamental. It builds a kind of steadiness that doesn’t depend on everything going well.
Self-compassion isn’t just what I teach. It’s what I practice, return to, and continue to need. That’s what makes this work both personal and practical.
My background
I’m a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher, and I hold a master’s in clinical mental health counseling.
My professional background spans clinical mental health, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. I’ve worked as a staff therapist at Vassar College and completed hospital-based training supporting individuals and families through medical crisis, loss, and anxiety. Before moving into clinical work, I spent years in nonprofit and higher education, working alongside leaders navigating complex decisions and the particular pressures that come with roles that carry real responsibility for others.
That background stays with me. I understand what it feels like to hold organizational weight, to care deeply about the work you do, and to keep showing up even when it’s hard.
I’ve been teaching yoga since 2010, with a sustained focus on mindfulness, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. I draw on Designing Your Life methodology to support clients navigating transition and meaningful change. Mindfulness and contemplative practice were central to my graduate training and continue to shape everything I do.
Training & credentials
- National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)
- Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher (including Fierce Self-Compassion)
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, summa cum laude
- Trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness instructor
- Former staff therapist (under supervision during licensure)
- Designing Your Life methodology
Outside of the work
I love getting outside — gardening, hiking, bike rides, and time near the water. I travel when I can, practice yoga, and spending time with the people I love. I’m continually learning and reflecting — it’s both a personal commitment and what keeps this work alive.
Work with me → Book a free consultation →
A note on trauma-informed care
Because trauma is so common, I’ve sought out training to make this work as respectful and inclusive as possible.
While I don’t provide therapy or trauma treatment, I bring mindfulness and self-compassion practices with attention to safety, choice, and pacing. This work focuses on present-day skill-building and well-being, and may complement — though not replace — therapeutic care.
