MindHealing Institute

Patricia A. Forde, MA, RN, brings a unique combination of experience and expertise to her work promoting the vitality, resilience, productivity and creativity of individuals and organizations. While enjoying a career with several Fortune 500 retail corporations, Pat was confronted with a series of tragedies in her own family, which added the role of caregiver to her already busy schedule as executive and mother. In response, she developed a successful business developing and selling adaptive clothing and equipment for persons with disabilities and their caregivers.

In an effort to better appreciate the challenges that face persons with disabilities and their caregivers, Pat augmented her undergraduate degree in business with Master level studies in health care and aging. Then she furthered her knowledge base by adding her RN license, ultimately switching careers.

While working as a hospital-based nurse, Pat integrated her personal practice of meditation, relaxation, behavioral kinesiology and other wellness techniques into her contacts with patients and associates. For the past 10 years, since completing her training as a Nurse Meditation Specialist, she has brought her practice to corporate, healthcare and wellness settings ranging from homeless shelters to rehabilitation agencies to private clubs. Pat says that her service to persons who are homeless, especially those who are suffering from co-occurring disorders without the support of family, friends or other natural caregivers was transformational.

Pat’s continuing interest in persons in stress and distress and their caregivers propelled her to become a Certified Yoga Therapist, a Reiki Master and an Acceptance, Commitment Therapy (ACT) practitioner. She has observed first-hand the healing power of these techniques, especially mindful meditation in cases of trauma, stress and hurt.

For two years, Pat augmented her personal connection with persons in distress and recovery from substance use disorders by hosting a weekly web-based mutual help meeting under the auspices of IN THE ROOMS®, the global recovery community. Regular attendees signed on from throughout the United States and as far away as Ireland, Germany, Thailand and Australia. She is currently chronicling her experience in her forthcoming book on mindful meditations and acceptance, commitment therapy.

Pat splits her time between Florida’s Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties. In her spare time, she is a fiber and watercolor artist, enjoying nature and the company of her husband, clinical psychologist Dr. Paul Ahr, her adult daughters Victoria and Tricia and her Yorkshire Terriers Brea and Princess.

Pat is the President of the MindHealing InstituteSM and she regularly teaches and consults in the areas of meditation, relaxation, stress reduction, ACT and reiki.