Chris is a Soto Zen priest and teacher in the lineage of Shunyru Suzuki Roshi. She is founder and guiding teacher of Dharma Heart Zen in Sonoma County CA.
She began formal practice as a resident at San Francisco Zen Center in 1976 and continued her practice in the world as an MFT psychotherapist in private practice with a specialization in trauma. She received Dharma Transmission from Zoketsu Norman Fischer of the Everyday Zen Foundation, where she is a senior teacher, in 2012.
Chris is active in Socially Engaged Buddhist practice, and is an Interfaith Leader in the Sanctuary Coalition of Sonoma County. She leads Jizo Grief Ceremonies for Children and Those Who Have Died, and the Jizo Peace Project. She cofounded Veteran's PATH to bring mindfulness and meditation practices to the trauma of war, and helped create and currently facilitates Wildland Firefighter Retreats at Tassajara.