Christopher Willard

Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a psychologist and educational consultant based in Boston, specializing in mindfulness for adolescents and young adults. He has been practicing meditation for over fifteen years. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and the Mindfulness in Education Network. Dr. Willard has published five books on contemplative practice and is the coauthor of The Breathing Book with Olivia Weisser. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.

Helping Children Take a Mindful SEAT to Calm Down
A simple mindful exercise to help older children manage feelings of overwhelm, stay in the present moment, and not get caught up in strong emotions and thoughts. Read more
  • Nov 2,2021
  • Christopher Willard
When Your Kid is the Bully

Seven mindful strategies to help your children learn from their mistakes and heal the rifts they create with those around them. Read more
  • Nov 23,2021
  • Christopher Willard
A Mindful Kids Practice: The Breath Ball
Kids can learn the basics of mindfulness — how to follow the breath — using a timeless toy: an expandable ball called a Hoberman sphere. Read more
  • Nov 2,2021
  • Christopher Willard
Help Your Kids Let Go of Stuff
By engaging children’s imagination and natural compassion we can help them live a simpler, more mindful life. Read more
  • Jun 5,2018
  • Christopher Willard
The Science of Fidget Spinners: Mindful or Mindless?
A look a the science of fidgeting—Plus 5 games that use fidget spinners to make mindfulness accessible and help it stick with both kids and adults. Read more
  • Nov 15,2021
  • Christopher Willard
A Simple Strategy for Creating New Habits
Four research-backed tips that will help you stave off temptation, follow through on your goals, and shift out of old habits and into new ones. Read more
  • Jan 26,2022
  • Christopher Willard
A Holiday Gift for Your Stressed-Out Self
Try this short mindfulness practice the next time you feel triggered, tired, frazzled, or ready to fight—Consider it your mindfulness ACE in the hole. Read more
  • Nov 16,2021
  • Christopher Willard
A Primer on Living in a Time of Fear
How to mindfully attend to and befriend fear so you can shift away from your "fight or flight" response to fear and maybe even let it go. Read more
  • Jan 25,2022
  • Christopher Willard
Be a Mindful Travel Warrior
3 ways to bring mindful awareness to the literal ups and downs of travel. Read more
  • Nov 23,2021
  • Christopher Willard
A Simple Mindful Cell Phone Practice
Here's a short mindfulness practice to help you notice your reactions to the beeps and buzzes of your phone, and become aware of the stories and urges and emotions that it can bring up. Read more
  • Jan 26,2022
  • Christopher Willard