Residents looking for practical ways to build emotional resilience and reconnect with themselves will have the opportunity to do so during an upcoming wellness program at the Ann Arbor District Library’s downtown branch. The event, “Cultivating Kindness: An Introduction to Self-Compassion and Meditation,” will take place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the library’s Lower-Level Program Room.
Led by local mental health professional Sara Camilleri, the free, in-person presentation will introduce participants to the foundations of self-compassion and mindfulness while offering approachable, guided practices that can be integrated into daily life. The program is open to anyone interested in learning about meditation and self-compassion, regardless of experience level.
A career centered on compassionate mental health care
Camilleri is the owner and solo practitioner of Sand River Therapy, where she provides inclusive mental health services to adults, with specialties including perinatal and postpartum mental health, pregnancy loss, infertility and career burnout. She has spent more than a decade supporting individuals through difficult and vulnerable moments, work that helped shape her passion for self-compassion practices.
Camilleri said, “I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Sand River Therapy provides inclusive mental health care rooted in integrity, trust and compassion. Sand River Therapy offers individual therapy to adults with a specialty in perinatal/postpartum mental health, pregnancy loss, infertility and career burnout.”
Camilleri said she has consistently seen the benefits of mindfulness-based approaches across diverse client experiences and believes the practices can support individuals through many types of emotional challenges.
Breaking down barriers to meditation and self-compassion
Despite growing interest in mindfulness, Camilleri notes that many people hesitate to explore meditation because they believe they must perform it perfectly or follow rigid expectations.
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“Honestly, a self-compassionate way to approach this would be to give yourself permission to try out different things,” Camilleri said. “I’d also recommend finding a therapist or clinical professional who can help you navigate finding different options uniquely for you and your situation. If mental health care is not available or if you’re not ready for that, check out www.self-compassion.org for great, free resources by leading self-compassion researcher and expert Dr. Kristin Neff.”
The program will emphasize accessibility, helping attendees understand that mindfulness and meditation can be tailored to individual needs and comfort levels rather than following a single prescribed method.
Understanding different pathways to emotional wellness
Camilleri said that while guided meditation and traditional therapeutic conversations can support emotional growth, they often function in different ways. During the program, participants will be introduced to how these approaches can complement each other.
“I would say that guided meditation is one option that helps individuals connect with their emotions, and traditional therapeutic conversations is another option,: Camilleri said, “Guided meditation, depending on the type, can offer more somatic based practices whereas traditional therapeutic conversations can offer a variety of other options such as cognitive reprocessing, behavioral or trauma informed approaches. There is not a one size fits all for navigating our emotional wellness, therefore, it’s really important that individuals consider what works for them.”
A timely invitation to slow down and reconnect
In a fast-paced world where stress and burnout are increasingly common, Camilleri believes mindfulness and self-compassion provide valuable tools for maintaining balance. Through a combination of discussion and experiential exercises, attendees will gain introductory knowledge and practical techniques they can begin using immediately.
The presentation will include an overview of self-compassion concepts, guided mindfulness examples, and suggestions for incorporating small, sustainable wellness practices into daily routines. Camilleri hopes participants leave feeling empowered to explore these strategies in ways that feel personally meaningful.
The event is free and open to the public. More information about Camilleri’s practice and services can be found through Sand River Therapy.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
