Mindful Self Compassion Intensive

Based on the ground-breaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, this in-person offering is an intensive version of the 8-week programme. MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.

The emphasis of the programme is on building the resources of self-compassion and mindfulness through a process of self-discovery. We begin with mindfulness, through which we turn with loving awareness toward difficult experiences (thoughts, emotions, and sensations). Next, we learn to turn that loving awareness toward ourselves. Together, mindfulness and self-compassion comprise a state of warm, connected, presence during difficult moments in our lives. Please keep in mind that MSC is therapeutic, but it’s not therapy.  MSC is not a substitute for medical or mental health care.

MSC activities include short talks, experiential exercises, meditation, group discussion, and home practices.

The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to our essential interrelatedness, so that we know we aren’t alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warm-hearted, connected presence.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn’t receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable when they are good to themselves. It’s a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others, and be more authentically ourselves.

Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships.

And it’s easier than you think.

Course Outcomes

After participating in this programme, you’ll be able to:

• Motivate yourself with encouragement rather than self-criticism;
• Relate to difficult emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance;
• Respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness;
• Transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation;
• Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation;
• Identify core mindfulness and self-compassion exercises for use in daily life;
• Discuss simple self-compassion practices with patients, students, or clients;
• Describe the theory and research supporting self-compassion;
• Identify fierce and tender aspects of self-compassion and their role in well-being.