About Thérèse
Thérèse Yakshi Charvet has lived in the woods of
Bainbridge Island for over thirty years, has been a nurse, a practicing
midwife doing home and clinic births in Kitsap County, and
was the Midwifery Program Director at Seattle Midwifery
School for nearly 13 years. Professional accomplishments include
being a founding member and first President of the Midwives Alliance of North
America, a founding member and former president of the Midwifery
Education Accreditation Council, a member of the Board of Directors for
the Midwives
Association of Washington State and a delegate to the International Confederation of Midwives.
Influenced by her intense work with women in midwifery practice and grounded by her long-time zen meditation practice, Thérèse began exploring the "women's blood mysteries" and old goddess religions in the 1980’s. She began learning from and with mentors and various groups who were likewise inspired to develop a spirituality that is connected to their bodies and Mother Earth, a mix of wiccan, goddess and Native American spiritual teachings.
Therese began learning and practicing "Compassionate Listening" with The Compassionate Listening Project (TCLP) in 2002. After extensive training, she was certified as one of TCLP's facilitators in 2005. Her services as a peace-maker, mediator and teacher of listening skills have been enlisted by a variety of individuals and groups. She also works with TCLP as its Education Coordinator
In the personal arena, Thérèse built a log house in the mid-70's with her was-band David and raised a happy, healthy daughter, (Ariel, who helped with this website). She still lives at Sacred Groves with her spouse Tere and 3 more delightful GrovesMates. Her spirituality is inspired by decades of Zen meditation. Her personal healing journey includes experiences with many bodywork modalities, group and individual therapy, dance workshops with Gabrielle Roth, women's circles and rituals, community drumming events and rituals. Most importantly, she regularly connects with Mother Earth and Great Spirit by sitting quietly on her land on Bainbridge and in the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest where she has backpacked and hiked for three decades. She has had training in a number of touch techniques and natural treatments. She has synthesized all of these experiences into an eclectic healing art, and offers herself as a Priestess, facilitator of ceremonies, circles and classes, counselor, guide and healer for women, men and couples.
- Fall of 2001, Thérèse went on a ten week "pilgrimage" into the wilderness and into her internal wild woman in solitary retreat. If you want to read about that, click here.
- Spring of 2003, Thérèse travelled to Europe to reconnect with her French ancestors. If you want to read about that, click here.
