Conversations with the Inspiring Robyn Winters

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robyn Winters.

Robyn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a survivor of childhood trauma. My childhood and adolescent years were plagued with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. It wasn’t until I was almost thirty that I discovered a mindfulness practice which changed my life’s path. Mindfulness has many different faces and forms. Mine came in the way of a martial art called Ki Aikido. Through the meditative pedagogy of this art, I learned the principles of balancing life, connecting to others with compassion, and maneuvering difficult situations with more focus and calm presence. It was the roots of this art almost 20 years ago that started me on a journey to heal myself and to dedicate my life to helping others with stress and trauma.

Within a year of dedicated mindfulness practice, I saw my life change in remarkable ways, both in my personal and professional life. I was able to get off medications for anxiety and depression and find natural ways to manage my mental health (That was almost 20 years ago and to this day have not experienced a full panic attack). I became the top salesperson at my company and reached professional goals that were empowering and liberating. The best thing the practice brought me was self-acceptance to the point of giving a nice guy and a healthy relationship a chance. We married a few years later, had a few kids, and 18 years later, we are still best friends and laughing at each other’s jokes – important things in a marriage!

It was as if someone had unplugged me from the Matrix and I wanted to share this knowledge with others and wake them up too! I decided to help others learn the practice and I’ve dedicated the last 18 years of my life to helping others gain knowledge and the skillset that literally saved my life. I’ve obtained therapeutic and contemplative certifications over the years but find living in my daily practice the most valuable thing I can share with clients. I have taught thousands of individuals and I am truly grateful to have stories of the youth and adults I’ve helped over the years.

I am excited about my newest journey of launching a nonprofit organization, Cognitive Learning Center (CLC). Together, with a team of amazing professionals, we are building an organization that is devoted to helping individuals in high-trauma communities to live happier healthier lives.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been easy. I have been working in the nonprofit world for several years now and it definitely has its challenges. I have found individuals that have a passion for helping others are often trauma survivors themselves which can make them more vulnerable to occupational stress and secondary-trauma in the workplace. That is why one of our main focuses at CLC is to support individuals that work in high-trauma communities to manage occupational stress and secondary-trauma in the workplace.

The advice I would give to someone starting a business is to hire individuals with experience and build a team of diverse skillsets that pull from different strengths. People may look really good on a resume with a lot of degrees and certifications that qualify them for a position; however, it is important to know what someone’s experience is before you hire them. For example, I am in the field of helping others. To truly help someone you have to inspire an individual to help themselves. This takes a skill set you can’t learn in an educational institution or training. I have learned the hard way that experience and authenticity can be just as important as a degree!

What should we know about Cognitive Learning Center? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Cognitive Learning Center (CLC) helps individuals in high-trauma communities to live happier healthier lives. We are dedicated to contributing valuable research in the field of contemplative science and are excited to be participating in a research study this year that will help hospital staff with resilience and retention in the profession. CLC believes there should be more individuals teaching mindfulness in the world and we are devoted to mentoring individuals that want to learn how to teach cognitive and contemplative practices to others. We hope to launch our Mindfulness Certification classes in the fall of 2019.

CLC programs are custom designed to fit the need of every client. Our curriculum pulls from evidence-based models to help individuals learn tools, skills, and information to better manage challenges in the workplace and in personal life. Each class incorporates a lesson in neuroscience, kinesthetic movement, and cognitive-behavioral exercises.

CLC offers Mindfulness Nature Retreats at Five Fridges Farm located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Clients are encouraged to include a retreat with all of our training to really engage individuals in the practice of cognitive science and exercises they learn in the classroom training. CLC retreats are based in research on The Social Benefits of Noticing Nature by Holli-Anne Passmore, Ph.D., and Mark D. Holder, Ph.D.

We operate on a “buy one give one” model. For every CLC program purchased, a percentage of the proceeds will go to helping a high-trauma community. We are excited and grateful that we are able to offer three programs in 2019 to communities in need. Two will be helping adolescents in trauma and one will support staff that works with youth in crisis.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
There are many women that inspire me in many ways and I spend a lot of my time in my professional and personal life-supporting inspirational women. CLC’s Women in Leadership Program is designed to provide necessary skills, techniques, and knowledge that build confidence and courage to successfully navigate the complexities of leadership and transformative change.

Outside of CLC, I personally host events a couple of times a year with a group I founded called Women Inspiring Women. It is a group of women leaders that get together to share inspiration and support of the passionate endeavors and work we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cl-center.org
• Phone: (720) 480-9764
• Email: Robyn@cl-center.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cognitive_learning_center/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLCorganization
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLCOrganization

Image Credit:
Photos by Lance McClure:
Marshal Art Photo of Robyn Winters in Ki Meditation.
Marshal art photo of Robyn Winters doing an Aikido throw.

Photos by Dave Ingraham:
Robyn Winters practicing breathing exercise with youth.
Robyn Winters with Mary Carson, MVD; William Nash, 911 First Responder; and Mark Brand, Retired ER Tech/Paramedic and Firefighter Lieutenant Paramedic
Nature Photos of Robyn Winters at Five Fridges Farm
Robyn Winters with Sharon Tessier, Director of CLC Women’s Leadership Program

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