Tara Cassidy, a graduate of the Maryland University of Integrative Health, holds a Master of Arts degree in Health and Wellness Coaching. She is a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) through the National Board of Medical Examiners and the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches. Tara empowers her clients to adopt a wellness mindset by fostering behavioral and lifestyle changes in small, manageable steps. She incorporates the latest principles in behavior change, including positive psychology, motivational interviewing, insight meditation – and a touch of her natural humor!

She is the founder of Cassidy Wellness Coaching, LLC, in Frederick, Maryland, where she offers one-on-one coaching, working with clients who seek work/life balance, weight loss, improved sleep, increased physical activity, adjustment to life during Covid, as well as mindfulness practice. She also offers workshops on mindful/intuitive eating, lifestyle and habit change. Tara understands well that cooking can be a major element (or obstacle!) to proper nutrition and well-being. So she offers a digestible, online weekly show from her home kitchen, “Tuesdays with Tara”. 

Tara is also an active volunteer in the work of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). She co-facilitates a virtual discussion group offered after weekly meditations and talks given by IMCW founder Tara Brach and her partner Jonathan Foust. She established and leads Mindful Eating drop-in classes through the Frederick Meditation Center. She brings these mindful practices, as well as a sense of calm and acceptance, to her work as a health and wellness coach.

Prior to becoming a consultant, Tara had a career in education, working in the executive offices in Arlington Public Schools’ Department of Instruction as well as the Early Childhood Office, and serving as Wellness Coordinator for the department. These positions followed her work for consulting firms that managed nationwide contracts for the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education.  

Throughout all her work experiences, Tara embraces the habit of physical exercise as a key component of well-being, working for six years as a personal trainer, participating in three century rides, three triathlons, and numerous 3-, 5- and 10-mile foot races. Yoga is integral to her daily life.

In her spare time, you can find her with her nose in books about food, sustainability and nourishment; creating healthy meals for her family and friends; moving through local hiking trails, in Baker Park where she takes her dog, ‘Butch Cassidy’, for long walks.

AFFILIATIONS

International Coach Federation (ICF), Maryland Chapter
Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW)
National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)
Frederick Meditation Center
National Association of Sports Medicine

EXTENDED TRAINING

ICF, How Mindfulness Helps Us Hack our Minds for Effective Habit Change
ICF, Coaching Clients with Chronic Medical Conditions
MUIH, Health, health promotion and disease prevention, applying a whole person perspective 
MUIH, Health behaviors, social and behavioral risk factors 
MUIH, Mindful Eating
MUIH, Whole Foods Culinary Nutrition