This course has been pushed back and transformed into The Short Course in Mindful Self Compassion, taught by Wendy Schmelzer starting on March 7th. Click here if you’d like to register.
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a program developed by Kristin Neff, the pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion (www.Self-Compassion.org) and the author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind; and Christopher Germer, a clinical psychologist who specializes in mindfulness and compassion-based psychotherapy (www.MindfulSelfCompassion.org) and the author of many books including A Mindful Path to Self-Compassion.
In this program, you will learn:
- Self compassion as a skill that can help you to meet life’s difficulties with more wisdom and kindness.
- How to offer yourself the compassion you would naturally extend to a dear friend or stranger.
- A courageous attitude of mind that will give you emotional stability and resilience to be more fully present with uncertainty so that you can recover from life’s difficulties and move on with more ease and confidence.
Research
Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional well-being. It boosts happiness and reduces anxiety and depression. 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.
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.”
Imagine your reaction to a child struggling in school. Many parents would offer support, like tutoring. But when adults find themselves in a similar situation – struggling at work, overeating, and gaining weight – many fall into a cycle of self-criticism and negativity. That leaves them feeling even less motivated to change.
“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.”
8-Week Course in Mindful Self-Compassion
The 8-week format consists of eight weekly, 2.5 hour sessions in a classroom/discussion group format, plus a 4-hour retreat. This class is often most easily integrated into our lives and offers an extended opportunity to deepen and solidify our practice.
Schedule (4-6:30 PT):
- Sunday Feb 21st
- Sunday Feb 28th
- Sunday March 7th
- Sunday March 14th
- Sunday March 21st
- Sunday March 28th
- Half-Day Saturday April 3rd 10-1pm
- Sunday April 11th
- Sunday April 18th
Throughout this course, participants will learn:
- 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
Testimonials from Wendy and Ava’s MSC Students:“The supportive and structured group environment was the best part. Everything about our group made this journey of self-exploration less lonely and scary. The class format was so helpful (instead of just reading a book) and helped me so much in being brave. I would recommend this class to others because, although it’s challenging, it’s life-changing and very well worth it.”“I am so happy to have completed this course! The teachers felt both like friends and family. I have definitely taken away a great deal and am inspired to continue down my mindfulness and self-compassion path. Plus the resources provided that we can use in everyday life are great!”“The best aspect of this course is how much I learned. I consider myself someone who knows about compassion and still every week I left feeling as though I had learned so much about myself and self-compassion. The course has allowed my self-expression to be more significant because the environment was safe and free of judgement or correction.”
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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.
