and Workshops
and Workshops
Upcoming lectures and workshops
Workshop at Esalen Institue February 14 - 19, 2010
For location and cost information, go to:
Program Description
The psychological benefits of mindfulness are becoming well-established. Yet for people who struggle with intense emotions such as shame, anxiety, anger, or grief, mindfulness practices can be enhanced by adding a simple yet powerful ingredient: self-compassion.
Self-compassion entails being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism. Self-compassion also means holding our difficulties in mindful awareness and feeling connected to others while we suffer. The art of self-compassion is a kind of portable, therapeutic relationship that can be learned and taught. Therapists can also practice self-compassion themselves to deepen therapeutic presence, to enjoy clinical work more thoroughly, and for an overall sense of well-being.
This seminar is a step-by-step journey into self-compassion, weaving lecture, meditation, case examples, scientific research, audio and video presentations, role play demonstration, and discussion. It is intended primarily for practicing mental health professionals, but the emphasis on personal practice makes this seminar appropriate for the general public as well.
Presenter biolographies
Kristin Neff, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin. She is one of the world's leading researchers on self-compassion. In addition to authoring numerous academic articles on self-compassion, she is currently writing a book on the topic entitled "Self-Compassion: How to Let Go of Self-Esteem and Find True Happiness," to be published by William Morrow in spring 2011.
Christopher Germer, PhD, is a leader in the field of clinical applications of mindfulness to psychotherapy. He is a founding member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, and a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at the Harvard Medical School for the past 25 years. He is author of the new book "The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion."
8-week workshop in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), March 3-April 21, 2010, in Arlington, MA.
MSC is a new psycho-educational skills training program developed by Kristin Neff and Chris Germer.
The workshop is based on the therapeutic principles and practices described in Chris Germer’s book, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, and Kristin Neff’s soon-to-be-released Self-Compassion: How to Let Go of Self-esteem and Find True Happiness. You’ll learn:
- how to stop being so hard on yourself
- how to handle disturbing emotions with greater ease
- how to motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism
- how to transform your relationships, both old and new
- mindfulness and self-compassion exercises for everyday life
- the theory and research behind mindful self-compassion
- how to become your own best teacher
All participants are expected to attend in the entire course and to practice mindful self-compassion at least 30 minutes per day for the duration of the program. Since this is a pilot project, the fee is substantially reduced to $200. In exchange, participants will be asked to complete a few outcome measures at the beginning and the end of the program, and to provide written feedback after each session. The workshop is open to anyone over 18.
Click here for informational flyer (MS Word DOC format)
Day-long workshop April 7th at the 8th Annual MBSR scientific conference in Worcester, MA.
This is a daylong, pre-conference workshop at the 8th Annual Center for Mindfulness Conference: Investigating and Integrating Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society
The intention to cultivate compassion for ourselves, as well as others, lies at the heart of Buddhist approaches to well-being. Self-compassion integrates the equanimity of mindfulness, the wisdom of no-self, and the nurturing quality of loving-kindness. By giving ourselves compassion, we are also tapping into our oxytocin and opiate-based mammalian care-giving system, allowing us to calm our physiology in a way that facilitates mindfulness-based approaches to well-being.
Participants will learn how to synthesize self-compassion with mindfulness and acceptance-based treatments, apply self-compassion to clinical settings, and utilize self-care strategies. The workshop will also present research demonstrating how self-compassion differs from self-esteem.
CE’s are available.
http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=41258&LinkIdentifier=id
