Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
“Remember that if you really want to motivate yourself, love is more powerful than fear.” - Dr. Kristin Neff
8-week Training Program
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)is an empirically-supported, 8-week training program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.
After Participating in this workshop, you’ll be able to:
Practice self-compassion in daily life
Understand the empirically-supported benefits of self-compassion
Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism
Handle difficult emotions with greater ease
Transform challenging relationships, old and new
Manage caregiver fatigue
Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation
What to Expect
Program activities include meditation, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. MSC is a workshop rather than a retreat. The goal is for participants to directly experience self-compassion and learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life.
MSC is primarily a compassion training program rather than mindfulness training, although mindfulness is the foundation of self-compassion. MSC is also not psychotherapy insofar as the emphasis of MSC is on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Beneficial change occurs naturally as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way.
Compassion is a positive, energizing emotion. However, it is said that “love reveals everything unlike itself.” While learning self-compassion, some difficult emotions may arise. MSC teachers are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey enjoyable for everyone.
MSC includes 8 weekly sessions of 2 3/4 hours each, in addition to a 4-hour retreat. Prior to registering, participants should plan to attend every session and practice mindfulness and self-compassion at least 30 minutes per day throughout the program.
Prerequisites
Everyone is welcome, including people of all backgrounds and identities. No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend MSC. Participants will be asked to provide some personal information when they register for this course to help teachers determine their safety and readiness for this kind of emotional work.
The following book is recommended as a companion to the MSC course:
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer (2018)
And for those who wish to integrate MSC into their professional activities, the following book is also recommended. However, please plan to take MSC primarily for your own personal insight and development.
Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program, by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff (2019)
This program fulfills one of the prerequisites for becoming an MSC teacher. For more information on MSC or MSC Teacher Training, please visit www.centerformsc.org