Therapy & Meditation with Noel Coakley, MEd, LMHC

Serving Greater Boston & Beyond

Wake Up Sleepy Buddha

For those seeking an alternative to traditional psychotherapy, Noel offers a unique approach rooted in Buddhist psychology and meditation practices.

Noel works with individuals and couples around issues including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, relationships, career changes, and spirituality.

For those seeking support in their meditation practice, Noel offers an approach established in lineage traditions that is balanced with trauma-informed Western psychology. His support style balances tradition with modern contextualization.

Meet Noel

Wake Up Sleepy Buddha

A New Book by Noel Coakley

For more than thirty years, I've watched people discover mindfulness—then wonder where to go next.

Wake Up Sleepy Buddha is the guide I wished someone had handed me: a richly illustrated, 600+ page companion to the broader Buddhist path, written for ordinary people seeking authentic practice beyond mindfulness.

Rooted in traditional Buddhist wisdom and informed by contemporary psychology, the book was created to make profound teachings approachable without diminishing their depth.

The manuscript is complete, and a community-funded campaign is helping bring it into the world through professional editing, original illustrations, thoughtful design, and its first printing.

I'd love to invite you to take a look.

Explore the Book

Upcoming Courses & Retreats

Featured
Summer Meditation Practice Community 2026
Jul 7
Summer Meditation Practice Community 2026

Summer Meditation Practice Community
Tuesdays 7/7-8/11 7:00-8:30

This online summer practice series is designed to help participants stay connected to practice, community, and support during the summer months.

Unlike a traditional course, there is no fixed curriculum. Each session will include guided meditation, practice instruction, group discussion, and opportunities for both full-group and small-group conversation. Topics and practices will emerge from the interests, questions, and experiences of those participating, allowing the series to remain responsive to what is most alive and relevant in the group.

Whether you're maintaining an established practice, looking for support and accountability, or simply wanting to stay connected with a community of fellow practitioners, this series offers a flexible space to practice together throughout the summer.

Centre Space: A Facilitated Community Support Gathering with Noel Coakley
Jul 23
Centre Space: A Facilitated Community Support Gathering with Noel Coakley

In Person @ JP Centre Yoga, Boston, MA
8 Thursdays: July 23rd-Sep10th
5:30P-6:45

In a time when many people are longing for deeper connection and more honest spaces to simply be human, this 8-week community series offers a place to pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversation with others. Each session begins with a short grounding practice before opening into facilitated conversation shaped by the needs and experiences of the group itself. Some evenings may feel light and connective, while others may invite deeper reflection or vulnerability. All experiences are welcome.

John Makransky 1 Day Retreat: Being Harmonized with the Unconditional Love & Wisdom of our Buddha Nature
Nov 8
John Makransky 1 Day Retreat: Being Harmonized with the Unconditional Love & Wisdom of our Buddha Nature

In this daylong retreat, we will adapt this pattern of practice from Tibetan Buddhism, with some assistance from modern psychology, to make it accessible both for Buddhist practitioners and for people of all faiths who have previous contemplative experience and seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional love and wisdom.

From a Tibetan Buddhist perspective, our buddha nature is the basic space of our being that is undivided from vast capacities of awareness, warmth, love, compassion and wisdom. These capacities are always available below our surface consciousness, but often hidden by our conditioned habits of thought and reaction. In this retreat, we will learn three modes of practice derived from Tibetan Buddhism that empower each other as they harmonize us with those innate capacities.

2026 Meditation Retreat in Costa Rica
Dec 4
2026 Meditation Retreat in Costa Rica

Join Noel Coakley for a meditation retreat, nestled in the lush mountains and vibrant jungles of La Fortuna, Costa Rica.  At the foot of the volcano, on the shore of Lake Arenal, explore local activities and enjoy nourishing food, while starting and ending the day with meditation sessions.

All are welcome, with a gentle suggestion for those new to meditation to have a basic introduction beforehand.

2027 Menla Retreat “The Buddhist Path in Practice”
Feb 4
2027 Menla Retreat “The Buddhist Path in Practice”

Wake Up Sleepy Buddha:
The Buddhist Path in Practice

February 04 - February 07, 2027

The retreat offers a grounded, experiential introduction to the broader Buddhist path, emphasizing direct practice, integration into daily life, and trust in our innate capacity for awareness and compassion - our buddha nature. Rather than focusing on doctrine, scholarship, or religious identity, the teaching remain rooted in traditional sources while meeting the realities of contemporary life.

This retreat offers a clear, grounded bridge between introductory mindfulness and the living heart of Buddhist practice.

This retreat is well-suited for meditators, therapists, helpers, and anyone seeking depth without dogma, and a clear bridge between mindfulness and the living heart of Buddhist practice.

  • -" with warmth, humor and practical wisdom, Noel makes meditation and Buddhist insights approachable for true beginners. His introductory classes were just what I needed to get started on the path to mindfulness."

    Paula, Chicago

  • I first met Noel Coakley at a music festival where he was conducting guided meditation sessions. Since then I have participated in several of his on-line meditation courses. In a heaving sea of information (and misinformation) and 24/7 cultural and sensory input, Noel effectively teaches us how to seek (and hopefully find) that calm and open place we each have within ourselves to better help us to get on in our tumultuous world. He is a very kind, warm and egalitarian being. His teachings are very practical, understandable and free of any off-putting vibe or jargon. In his classes, we're all open, free and supported by the community that Noel fosters. I look forward to more of Noel's presence and teachings.

    Karl, Retired veterinarian, husband of 40 years

  • Noel's presence is calm, centered, supportive and non-judgemental - a perfect combination for those new to the practice as well as long-time devotees.

    Robert, Acupuncturist

  • Noel is a compassionate, direct and attuned healing guide and psychotherapist. His knowledge of Dharma and mindfulness, as well as deep training in theory and body-based practices allow him to meet me where I am at, respond thoughtfully, and hold the space for me to arrive at my own wisdom. With his support I have thrived through some very dark times.

    E., Yoga Teacher, Reiki Practitioner

  • These programs were truly great. They were thoughtfully organized, well presented, and interactive in a very comfortable way. Noel is a wonderful teacher and relates easily to a broad range of people and explains the concepts behind Buddhist meditation in a very tangible way. I have really benefited from my new practice and plan to continue.

    Course Participant

  • I’ve been working with Noel for the better part of a decade and have found his insights, guidance and wisdom truly transformative both in navigating my meditation practice as well as my life as a whole.

    Robert, Writer

  • I very much enjoyed the class and miss having that on my Mondays. I've been pretty consistent with my meditation but this helped deepen it. I liked getting walked through a lot of major ideas and practices all at once. It helped me put things in context. I enjoyed the detours into western psychology because the meetpoint between that and the Buddhist/Eastern concept of mind, etc. is very interesting to me as two very different approaches to the challenges of life. I could have gone for more of that but that may not be for everyone. And overall I liked the way you handled the class!

    Dan