Compassionate Inquiry
Understand what lies beneath the patterns, reactions, and beliefs that keep you stuck.
Compassionate Inquiry is a gentle, experiential approach that helps bring awareness to the unconscious dynamics that can shape how we feel, respond, and relate to ourselves and others.
What is Compassionate Inquiry?
Compassionate Inquiry® is a psychotherapeutic approach created by Dr. Gabor Maté through decades of working with patients and retreat participants. Sat Dharam Kaur ND supported Gabor in structuring the approach and developing it into a training program that could be taught to others.
At the heart of Compassionate Inquiry is curiosity about what lies beneath our present-day reactions, behaviours and beliefs. Rather than focusing only on what happened to us, the approach explores what happened within us as a result of our experiences — and how those experiences may still be shaping our lives today.
By slowing down and bringing compassionate awareness to emotions, body sensations and unconscious beliefs, we can begin to recognize patterns and adaptations that may once have helped us cope, but may no longer serve us.
The intention is not to judge or fix what we discover, but to understand it — creating greater awareness, choice and connection with ourselves.
What Might We Explore?
You don't need to know exactly what's wrong — or even what you're looking for — before beginning. You may simply recognize that something keeps showing up in your life that you'd like to understand more deeply.
Compassionate Inquiry can help you explore:
• Recurring emotional reactions or triggers
• Relationship patterns that are difficult to change
• Self-limiting beliefs and negative self-talk
• Feelings such as shame, fear, anger or anxiety
• Difficulty expressing or understanding your emotions
• Feeling disconnected from yourself or what you truly want
• Behaviours or patterns you understand intellectually but still find difficult to change
• A desire to understand yourself more deeply
What Happens in a Session?
A Compassionate Inquiry session is a conversation that invites us to slow down and become curious about what is happening beneath the story.
As we explore what is present for you, I may invite you to notice emotions, physical sensations, memories or beliefs that arise. Rather than trying to analyze or change your experience, we pay attention to it with curiosity and compassion, allowing deeper patterns and connections to become more visible.
You can bring a particular situation, relationship or pattern you'd like to explore, or simply begin with whatever feels most present for you.
There is no expectation that everything needs to be resolved in one session. Sometimes a single session can provide an important insight or shift; at other times, continuing the inquiry over several sessions allows something to unfold more gradually.
Sessions are one-to-one and held online via Zoom.
Working with Nirmal
My relationship with Compassionate Inquiry began in 2018, when I participated in the inaugural Compassionate Inquiry Professional Training. I certified with Dr. Gabor Maté in April 2019 and began offering individual Compassionate Inquiry sessions.
Over the years, the principles of Compassionate Inquiry have also become integrated into my broader coaching work—particularly the importance of presence, curiosity, awareness and understanding the experiences that lie beneath our patterns.
More recently, I completed the Compassionate Inquiry Mentorship Program, renewing my certification as a Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner in August 2026.
What continues to draw me to this work is that we aren't trying to fix what arises. We become curious about it. When we can understand our patterns with greater compassion, rather than judgment, something new becomes possible.
I offer Compassionate Inquiry sessions to both men and women.
Sessions & Fees
Compassionate Inquiry can be experienced in a single session or over a series of sessions, depending on what feels right for you.
Individual Session
$150 CAD / $150 USD
A one-to-one Compassionate Inquiry session focused on whatever you would like to explore. There is no commitment to continue beyond the individual session.
Six-Session Package
$780 CAD / $780 USD
For those who would like greater continuity and the opportunity to explore patterns, experiences and insights more deeply over time.
Ready to Begin?
Choose the currency that applies to you. On the next page, you'll be able to select either an individual session or the six-session package.
Canada: CAD
US & International: USD
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