About Me

Heather Shaughnessy-Cato, MA
Wholehearted LLC

Navigating life’s ups and downs with compassion, wisdom and ease is my favorite topic to explore, study and teach.

I am a Personal Well-Being Coach; Self-compassion, mindfulness, and yoga teacher; Designing Your Life facilitator and coach; and am a parent, spouse, daughter, sister, auntie and friend.

I offer one-on-one coaching and personal training in mind-body practices, workshops for individuals and workshops for organizations, with options for both virtual sessions, and in-person engagement in Brunswick, Maine.

In my work, I draw from a range of evidence-based practices and wisdom traditions and enjoy sharing the context for these practices, and the science and research which support their efficacy. I also enjoy encouraging each client and participant to creatively engage in a process of self-discovery and growth, and to apply learnings to their lived experience while also honoring their values, worldview, and goals.

I continue to be inspired by the clients and students with whom I have worked — by the creative ways in which they applied wisdom teachings to get unstuck, to grow in their ability to love themselves, and to face life’s challenges with courage and resilience.

Through my personal practice (with yoga and self-compassion, mindfulness, Life Design), I have an appreciation for varied challenges that present themselves along the path to transformation and change. I therefore tend to approach coaching and teaching with some humility, humor and an invitation to be honest about and learn from all of our experiences.

I am both a teacher and perpetual student, and aim to create an inclusive and equitable environment in which we can engage in work that matters deeply — for our own well-being, and to support how we show up for others and for our communities.

My background

Small business owner of Wholehearted LLC: Coaching and teaching focused on self-compassion and embodied well-being.
Small business co-owner of Fieldbrook Advising: Facilitation for groups and organizations focused on Life Design – a creative, action oriented approach to navigating change and progressing toward personal and professional goals.
Yoga and mindfulness teacher
Previously served as a therapist (while under supervision during licensure process in NY).
Previously served in Development and Fundraising roles within Higher Education and Arts & Culture.

Education

M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Summa Cum Laude, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
B.A. in Psychology, B.A. in Sociology, State University of New York at Geneseo

Certifications:

Coaching Certifications through YogaMedCo
- Integrative Health Coach
- Well-being Coach
- Yoga Coach (incorporating yoga and yoga philosophy into coaching)
Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher, trained through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and under the mentorship of Beth Mulligan.
Certified Designing Your Life Coach and Facilitator through the Designing Your Life Group
Certified Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, 200 hr through Gates Yoga
Certificate in Mindfulness through the Nalanda Institute
Certified Wellness & Health Coach through Real Balance, offered by MaineHealth

Additional trainings:

In addition to the certifications noted above, I have engaged in a number of mind-body related trainings.

Compassion Based Resilience Training
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training
Trauma-Informed Children’s Yoga Training
Chair Yoga Teacher Training
Training on trauma and efficacy of mind-body practices with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Training, self-paced course by David Treleaven
10-Day Vipassana Meditation Course (silent retreat)

Given the prevalence of trauma, I have engaged in these trauma-related trainings to make my teaching more accessible and inclusive. I have included these as background for my approach. I offer mind-body practices with inclusive options for practice however I do not offer trauma treatment or trauma therapies of any kind.

I continue to participate in trainings for my own study and practice, and to infuse what I learn into my offerings.