People
Mary Lou Keller is a teacher, consultant, and licensed attorney. Based in the central mountains of Colorado, Mary Lou works actively in the Denver metro area, throughout the state, nationally, and internationally.
In two decades as a Child Welfare Attorney, Mary Lou has represented and advocated for children in divorce, post-divorce, and abuse and neglect cases throughout Colorado. She has served for many years on nonprofit boards dedicated to supporting early childhood education as well as victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Mary Lou is one of approximately 100 teachers worldwide certified to offer courses in Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), an 8-week educational program designed to improve resilience and enhance connections to others. CCT was created by neuroscientists, clinical psychologists, and contemplative scholars at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). His Holiness the Dalai Lama has supported CCARE’s work from the start, including the development and dissemination of CCT, because it fits so closely with his own commitment to fostering compassion throughout the world. Research shows that CCT increases mindfulness and feelings of connection to others, reduces worry while enhancing happiness, improves emotional regulation and resilience, and significantly expands the ability to extend and receive compassion, including self-compassion.
All of Mary Lou’s efforts and experience have coalesced into the initiatives of Keller & Associates (K&A). K&A is dedicated to sharing the science and practice of improving personal health and well-being, and enhancing prosocial behavior. As Principal of K&A, Mary Lou is particularly interested in working with business entities including law firms and the healthcare profession, making courses available in colleges and universities, bringing programs and support to children and families who have experienced traumatic events or circumstances, and providing resources to those battling stress or burnout.
FAQ’s
Q: Are any of the K&A educational offerings available online?
A: No, we’re very sorry but none of the educational programs are currently available in an online format. While we understand that online learning is an ideal option for many people and we receive this request from individuals all over the world, all of our educational offerings, particularly workshops and longer programs, are designed to be highly interactive between instructor and students as well as amongst classmates. If in future we expand our opportunities into online learning, any changes to our course offerings will be announced to our email distribution list. To stay informed of any and all of K&A’s educational opportunities, please subscribe to our distribution list by clicking on our Sign Up box and registering your information here…
Q: When are course schedules, locations, and registration information announced?
A: All information related to our course offerings will be announced to our email distribution list on at least a quarterly basis. To stay informed of any and all of K&A’s educational opportunities, please subscribe to our distribution list by clicking on our Sign Up box and registering your information here…
Q: What’s the cancellation policy for a course and how do I receive a refund?
A: For a full refund, the cancellation request must be received in writing 2 weeks (14 calendar days) before the first class. For a refund minus a processing fee, the cancellation request must be received in writing between 2 weeks and 3 business days before the first class. No refunds will be issued for cancellation requests received less than 3 business days before the first class. All cancellation requests must be submitted by email to mlkeller.cct@gmail.com.
Q: I’m on the registration waitlist for a course When will I be contacted if there is an opening? Should I show up for the first day of class?
A: You will be contacted by email or phone up until the first day of class if a spot becomes available. Unfortunately, we cannot generally predict whether any spots will become available, or whether any given person on the waitlist will be likely to get a spot. Please do not attend the first day of the class unless you have been contacted by our staff and have registered. Instructors are not always involved in the registration process and may not have the ability to add students to the class.
Q: I was on the waitlist for a course but a spot did not open up. Will I be automatically registered for the next course offered?
A: Wait list status does not automatically register you for future course offerings. However, you may reserve first chance at a spot in a future class by requesting in writing that K&A retain your previous registration fees and apply them to a future course if/when available. You will need to complete a new registration form for the course you’d like to take once registration for the new course opens.
Q: Is there an age minimum to enroll in a course?
A: Not exactly. Please bear in mind that the courses were developed for adults and most attendees are adults. That being said, motivated and mature high school students, and even late middle school students, have successfully participated in courses in the past. Requests for registration by someone under the age of 18 must be submitted by email to mlkeller.cct@gmail.com for review and pre-approval. Courses targeted to and appropriate for younger students are currently in development. To stay informed of any and all of K&A’s educational opportunities, please subscribe to our distribution list by clicking on our Sign Up box and registering your information here…
Q: Are course materials available for purchase?
A: No, currently course materials are not available for purchase. Materials (syllabus, guided meditation recordings, primary research, videos, etc.) are made available to registered to students and included in the registration fee.
Q: I want to register for one of the longer programs but will need to miss a class or two. Is that OK?
A: It is to every student’s advantage to attend all six or eight weekly classes in order to get the most out of the longer courses, as each class involves lectures and group discussions that are key components of the training process.
If you know ahead of time that you will need to miss one class or more, then it’s advised to wait to register for a course at a time when you’ll likely be able to attend all sessions. Having said this, our instructors are familiar with and understanding of the unpredictability of modern life and will help orient you to any materials if you do miss a class.
If you’re an enrolled student and know you will miss the first class in advance, please contact the instructor by emailing mlkeller.cct@gmail.com.
Q: Can the workshops or longer courses be audited?
A: No, due to the participatory nature of these courses only registered students may attend.
Q: Can I volunteer to work on any of the programs at Keller & Associates?
A: We are very interested in high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students interested in the fields of neuroscience and psychology as they relate to compassion, altruism, empathy, social connectedness and contemplative studies. Volunteers are an integral part of our team and responsibilities include administrative, event, research and communications support. We are looking for students who are enthusiastic about supporting our programs and are able to dedicate at least 10 hours a week for a minimum of three months. We are also willing to consider adult volunteers with similar interests and availability. To apply, please email a CV and cover letter to Mary Lou Keller at mlkeller.cct@gmail.com clearly stating your availability.
Q: How can I learn more about current research into subjects such as compassion, personal health and well-being, and prosocial behavior?
We’re pleased that you’re interested! Please start by exploring our website. Our Resources section has many posts and links to primary research, practice tools, writings and recordings, affiliated organizations and people, and much much more related to the science and application of positive mental states such as compassion.