Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)​ is an evidence-based training program designed to cultivate emotional resilience through the skill of self-compassion.

About this Event

Marcia Burton, Certified MSC Teacher, will be offering this online event with Siri Chandler, Certified MSC Teacher. It includes 8 live, interactive sessions of 2.5 hours each, from 5pm to 7:30 pm (PST). The course include an additional 2.5 hour mini-retreat session.

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)​ is an evidence-based training program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Kristin Neff (Ph.D.) and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer (Psychologist), MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.

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.

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 loving, 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.

After participating in this workshop, you’ll have skills to:

Practice self-compassion in daily life

Understand the evidence-based 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

About the training

Program activities include guided meditations, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion and practices in pairs or small groups. The training is a workshop, based on resilience training and skills, and although it can have psychotherapeutic effects, it is not “therapy”. The goal is for participants to directly experience self-compassion and to learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life. The MSC training is primarily a compassion training program although mindfulness is the foundation of self-compassion.

This training course fulfills the pre-requisite for the MSC Teacher Training.

Registration

Cost: $475 Canadian + taxes and fees. Everyone is welcome. There are some bursaries available to those on a low income, and for those with identity-based (gender, racial, religious, etc.) vulnerabilities.

To register, please contact Siri Chandler: siri@mindfulnessth.com

Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we give to others. Christopher Germer, PhD

Class Preparation

Recommended course reading is “The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: The Proven Way to Build Inner Strength and Thrive”, by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. This can be purchased at most book stores or online.

Technology needs: A strong, reliable internet connection & access to a computer or
tablet that is at least 10 inches. Phones or mini-tablets are not encouraged because
they impede our ability to see each other during group discussions.

Confidentiality and respect for privacy are important aspects of an MSC class.
Please make sure that you are joining class from a private space.

About the teachers

Siri Chandler

Siri is a Certified Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion and an experienced mindfulness educator. She is a dual Thai-American national living in Pranburi, Thailand. Her genuineness, kindness and personal experience of the benefits of MSC and MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) infuse her courses with a special personal touch.
As an enthusiastic life-long learner, she devotes her time to continuously deepening her own practice which she has been cultivating over the past 25 years. She is especially drawn to bringing mindfulness into daily life in a practical way. She enjoys kiteboarding, trekking, and walking with her dogs on the beach.

Marcia Burton

Marcia is a Certified Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion, a Registered Clinical
Counsellor and a Hakomi Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy Trainer. She lives in
British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada. She is a long-time mindfulness
practitioner and a dedicated practitioner of insight meditation. Marcia brings a
combination of gentleness, compassion, humour and playfulness to her work. She
enjoys kayaking, gardening, and walking on the beach with her dog. She offers MSC
courses and the MSC Teacher Training Practicum through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.