The Buddhist path is a path of liberation from suffering and stress. Essential to this path is learning how to actually turn towards and relate to moments of suffering in a radically new way- with mindfulness, wisdom and compassion.
Mindful Self-Compassion (SC-MSC), will teach you how to hold yourself with tenderness and compassion in those moments when you need it most — when you fail, feel inadequate and are suffering.
Too often we meet pain and challenge with harshness, resistance and criticism. MSC will teach you how to be present and courageous in the face of physical and emotional pain rather than fighting it or turning away from it – perfect for this season of challenge and uncertainty. As natural by-product, we find that we suffer less and less.
MSC was developed by pioneering researchers, meditators and clinicians, Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. Blending core Buddhist wisdom with cutting-edge clinical theory, this course skillfully unpacks and addresses typically practice pit-falls such as inner-critic issues, difficult emotions such as shame, unmet core needs and compassion fatigue/burnout.
This course is perfect for anyone who is suffering, and especially for beginners who find it hard to develop a regular meditative practice, or for more experienced practitioners you are feeling stuck along the way. All are welcome, and all can benefit from this evidenced-based course.
Each class will involve education on relevant themes, experiential practices and exercises, as well as group sharing, discussion and questions.
Research
Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional well-being. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and can even help you stick to your diet and exercise routine. All that’s required is a shift in the direction of your attention–recognizing that as a human being, you, too, are a worthy recipient of compassion.
From the New York Times
The research suggests that giving ourselves a break and accepting our imperfections may be the first step toward better health. People who score high on tests of self-compassion have less depression and anxiety, and tend to be happier and more optimistic. Preliminary data suggest that self-compassion can even influence how much we eat and may help some people lose weight.
This idea does seem at odds with the advice dispensed by many doctors and self-help books, which suggest that willpower and self-discipline are the keys to better health. But Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the field, says self-compassion is not to be confused with self-indulgence or lower standards.
“I found in my research that the biggest reason people aren’t more self-compassionate is that they are afraid they’ll become self-indulgent,” said Dr. Neff, an associate professor of human development at the University of Texas at Austin. “They believe self-criticism is what keeps them in line. Most people have gotten it wrong because our culture says being hard on yourself is the way to be.”
“Self-compassion is really conducive to motivation,” Dr. Neff said. “The reason you don’t let your children eat five big tubs of ice cream is because you care about them. With self-compassion, if you care about yourself, you do what’s healthy for you rather than what’s harmful to you.”
Schedule Thursdays 7-9:30pm PT:
Jan 4
Jan 11
Jan 18
Jan 25
Feb 1
Feb 8
Feb 10 Half-Day 10-1pm PT
Feb 15
Feb 22
Throughout this course, participants will learn to:
- Describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion
- Motivate themselves 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
- Begin to transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation
- Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation
- Integrate core mindfulness and self-compassion exercises into daily life
- Teach simple self-compassion practices to patients, students, or clients
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Continuing Education Hours:
Psychologists: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 24.0 CE credit.
California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 24.0 CE credit may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. For those licensed outside California, please check with your local licensing board to determine if CE credit is accepted.
Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board ofRegistered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 28.75 CE credit.
