Bio

Michael Zittel MA, AMFT, is a Buddhist meditation teacher and psychotherapist working in Los Angeles. He began practicing meditation daily in 1985, training his first decade of practice in foundational early Buddhist training of Samatha (Calm Abiding), Vipassana (Insight), and Jhana (Deep States of Concentration) which resulted in his beginning going through the stages of Progress of Insight. 

In his second decade of practice, he studied meditation with Shinzen Young in extensive retreat focus, supplementing this with training at Kopan monastery in Nepal, with zen monastics, and engaging in Native American Red Road ceremonies. Shinzen helped him complete his Progress of Insight development and in 2001 Michael became a facilitator of Shinzen Young’s then early stages of what is now the Unified Mindfulness system where he began pastoral counseling individuals in cultivating deeper meditation practice. 

In his third decade of practice, Michael focused on honing teaching while working with senior teachers in the western vipassana tradition and studying early Buddhist suttas with Sri Lankan Theravada teacher Dhammaananda of Maithreevihara. In 2015 Michael became empowered to teach Buddhadharma by senior teachers in the western insight tradition. In the same year, he completed his Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. He next completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and began to specialize in Mindfulness-based Trauma therapy working at several addiction and recovery facilities in Los Angeles where he provided individual therapy aimed at resolving trauma that underly addictive behavior. He taught regular Mindfulness classes and groups to support clients' own ability to support their healing from the debilitating effects of trauma. 

Currently, Michael provides therapy in private practice and is a Senior Teach at InsightLA in Los Angeles. 

Michael is a Liberation focused teacher. He teaches that Awakening is at the center of Buddhadharma practices and is available to everyone. He emphasizes a clearly articulated, precise, and practical approach to resolving discontent in working toward Liberation. His early years of practice with minimal resources or guidance impacted him to deeply empathize with students and try to help them minimize ambiguity, and help them cultivate a meditation practice that integrates formal sitting practice and awakening in daily life. 

In his therapy practice, Michael helps clients to cultivate Mindfulness in the service of building tools in Self-regulation, meta-awareness, and affect tolerance necessary for breaking free from the patterns of discontent. Mindfulness blends in especially well with EMDR to help people recover vital parts of themselves, and engage in life with meaning. Michael has deep compassion for his clients and always feels honored to be able to join them in their journeys of healing.