Jo-ann Rosen, LMFT, (she/her), True River of Understanding (Chân Tuê Hà), is an educator, psychotherapist, and lay Dharma Teacher in Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. 

Having received the Lamp of Wisdom and the encouragement to teach the Dharma from her teacher the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh in 2012, she co-founded the International EMBRACE (Embodying Mindfulness-Based Resilience to Awaken Community Empowerment) Sangha, which integrates a neuro-informed lens into Buddhist psychology.

Jo-ann is the guiding teacher of EMBRACE and the author of the recently published book, 'Unshakeable: Trauma-Informed Mindfulness for Collective Awakening.'

Jo-ann is a licensed psychotherapist, who has worked for the last thirty-five years with individuals, families, and groups, and in workplace settings with a special focus on individual, group, and institutional trauma. She teaches and lectures internationally, focusing on inner stability and community resiliency. 

Jo-ann Rosen’s writings center on a neuroscience-informed and trauma-sensitive approach to individual practice and collective awakening. 

Applying this work with a neuro-informed lens, she has offered workshops and trainings in elementary school classrooms, among school faculty members and social service workers, as well as with underserved communities in the US, Mexico, Israel, and the West Bank.

She lives with her partner of forty years in the oak woodlands of Northern California, US. 

Sassy is a 2 1/2 year old Chidoodle rescue who emigrated from Sonora, Mexico.  She will, no doubt, warm your heart.  After having Morris the therapy dog at our Richmond, Virginia retreat last fall, we couldn't resist the opportunity to bring that kind of joy into this retreat as well.  She's hypoallergenic, loves pets, has two cats of her own and tolerates the plane to be with her true home, Jo-ann.  She is considering taking the two promises and has already cultivated a high degree of understanding and compassion.  She is a true bow-wowdhisattva. She lives in the oak woodlands of Northern California with cats, racoons, bear, mountain lions, rattle snakes, skunks, porcupines, squirrels, etc and feels very lucky when she is able to run freely.