Learn the skills we all need to meet life’s challenges with more wisdom and kindness.
Our new and abridged course, The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (SC-MSC), will teach you how to hold yourself with tenderness and compassion when you need it most — when you fail, feel inadequate and are suffering. Learn MSC’s key informal practices, as well as brief practices in mindfulness right from home.
Too often we meet pain and challenge with harshness and criticism. SC-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 uncertainty.
SC-MSC was developed by MSC’s pioneering researchers and clinicians, Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer for those who were short on time and could not engage in the longer 2 ½ hour weekly class.
Research:
Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional well-being. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and motivates you for life-long growth, while avoiding burnout. 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, but Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the field and the co-creator of the MSC program, says self-compassion is not to be confused with 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 including tutoring or other emotional support. But when adults find themselves in a similar situation – such as struggling at work or in relationships,– 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. With self-compassion, if you care about yourself, you do what’s healthy for you rather than what’s harmful to you.”
Schedule (10-11:30am PT):
March 28
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25
May 2
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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 6.0 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. 6.0 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 7.0 CE credit.
Learning objectives:
Describe the main components of self-compassion and mindfulness and how they may be integrated into their role as healthcare professionals.
Explain the difference between empathy and compassion and utilize strategies to avoid emotional exhaustion.
Demonstrate strategies they can use on the job to regulate difficult emotions while caring for others in pain.
Apply at least one skill from each session to help them regulate emotions and care for themselves emotionally while caring for others who are experiencing difficulty.
