Why MSC?
Interested in learning to be kinder to yourself when you’re suffering? Wish you had better tools for handling difficult emotions? Want to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism and start to leave that harsh inner-critical voice behind? The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program includes exercises, meditations, and lessons on mindfulness, compassion for ourselves, difficult emotions, transforming the inner critic, and more.
We feel compassion and respond with kindness when a close friend is struggling. What would it be like to be able to offer yourself the same caring attention when you need it most?
What to Expect
This 8-week course includes:
- Guided instruction in mindful self-compassion practices and meditations
- Skill building exercises for managing difficult emotions and developing compassion
- Learning how to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism
- Learning how to stop being so hard on yourself and open to more happiness and joy
- Group dialogue and small group exercises
- Eight 2.5 hour classroom sessions
- A weekend retreat day of practice
What past participants say:
“Richard was such a delight and had a wealth of knowledge and experience both in teaching and teaching about mindfulness. He was able to listen to the class and provided relevant feedback from his own practice of many years and this was tremendously valuable for me.”
“MSC has been teaching me that I am my own best friend. Richard holds a safe space”
“I have been pleasantly surprised by how well the courses work on Zoom. Especially now, it feels more important than ever to stay connected to a community of people practicing together in a supportive environment. Both Tim and Richard are phenomenal teachers, so supportive and encouraging.”
More about MSC
In MSC you will learn:
- How to stop being so hard on yourself
- How to handle difficult emotions with greater ease
- How to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism
- Mindfulness and self-compassion practices for home and everyday life
- The theory and research behind mindful self-compassion
Mindfulness strengthens being able to turn toward and acknowledge our difficult thoughts and feelings with a spirit of openness and curiosity. Self-compassion involves responding to difficult thoughts and feelings with kindness, sympathy and understanding so that we soothe and comfort ourselves when we’re hurting.
Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional well-being. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and can even help maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise. Being both mindful and compassionate leads to greater ease and well-being in our daily lives.
Preparing for MSC
If you’re unsure about registering for a course, please contact the Mindfulness Northwest office. We want to be sure there is sufficient support for you and that the timing is right for taking our courses.
Continuing Education Credits Available
Continuing Education Credit is available for many professions. In our 8-week courses, APA CE's & BRN's are available for psychologists, nurses, MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and LCSWs; Clock Hours are available for Washington State educators; and in our 5-week Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals course, CME credit is available for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
To receive Continuing Education Credits you must:
- Register for your credits during course registration (additional fee during registration). There will be an $30 late fee for all CE's requested after the initial course registration, and all registrations for CE's must occur before class 2.
- Attend sessions online or in person. Recorded sessions do not count for credit, and we do not provide them.
- Complete a post course evaluation.
5-week Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers (MHP) Course
Physicians, nurses, therapists, and social workers: PeaceHealth St. Joseph designates this live activity for a maximum of 16.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. It meets the criteria for Category I CME credit to satisfy the relicensure requirements of the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission.
Learning Objectives for the 5-week Mindfulness for Healthcare Providers Course
After this education, learners should be able to:
• Choose appropriate mindfulness training techniques in preventive and responsive ways in high-stress situations.
• Utilize appropriate mindfulness practices to mitigate the risk factors for burnout.
• Discuss strategies with peers for a more positive, mindful engagement in work and home situations that have previously triggered stress response and unhelpful behaviors.
• Identify helpful vs. unhelpful thought patterns, problem solving, emotional regulation, and meaning-focused coping strategies.
• Demonstrate meaningful change in personal mindfulness, perceived stress, and burnout as shown in standardized measures administered pre- and post-activity.
8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course
Psychologists: Up to 27.0 CE Continuing Education Credits for this program are 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.
California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Up to 27.0 Continuing Education Credits for this program are 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. 27.0 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 of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 32.0 contact hours.
Washington State Educators: Up to 26 Clock Hours are available for eligible Washington State (K-12) teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates. Mindfulness Northwest is an approved provider through Washington State OSPI.
UCSD CE Learning Objectives for the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course:
- Articulate the key aspects of mindfulness as it relates to stress reduction, coping with pain and illness and enhancing well-being
- Differentiate MBSR from relaxation and other distraction techniques that may seem similar but are fundamentally and theoretically quite different in contending with difficulty and enhancing quality of life
- Apply mindfulness techniques in both personal and professional settings as a means of contending more effectively with the demands of both settings
- Integrate mindfulness into social interaction with patients, colleagues, supervisors, family and friends to facilitate more effective and mindful communication
- Articulate the potential benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction (and mindfulness in general) to educate patients and their families about the benefits of such programs in their own lives
- Implement brief mindfulness practices with patients and family members as a means of contending with acute pain, anxiety and distress.
Clock Hours Learning Objectives for the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course:
- Explore mindfulness practices including sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, body awareness, and others.
- Learn mindful approaches to manage pain, stress, and difficulty in an effective way.
- Connect with the wisdom of your own body and learn to relax tension.
- Develop tools to work with and transform stressful situations and reactions.
- Discover how to address depression and anxiety more skillfully.
- Gain more control over your own health and well-being, feeling empowered to live with more joy and equanimity.
8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Course
Psychologists: Up to 24.0 Continuing Education Credits for this program are 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.
California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Up to 24.0 Continuing Education Credits for this program are 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. Credits 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 of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 28.75 contact hours.
Washington State Educators: Up to 26 Clock Hours are available for eligible Washington State (K-12) teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates. Mindfulness Northwest is an approved provider through Washington State OSPI.
UCSD CE Learning Objectives for the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) class:
- Describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion
- Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
- Assess and manage difficult situations and emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance
- Develop and apply self-compassion practices to respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness
- Transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation
- Utilize the art of savoring and self-appreciation to overcome negative attention bias
- Apply core mindfulness and self-compassion practices into daily life
- Demonstrate simple self-compassion practices to patients, students, or clients
Clock Hours Learning Objectives for the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) class:
- How to stop being so hard on yourself
- How to handle difficult emotions with greater ease
- How to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism
- Mindfulness and self-compassion practices for home and everyday life
- The theory and research behind mindful self-compassion
Wondering what this class is like? You can also sign up for a FREE 90 minute introduction to this curriculum:
SCHEDULE
Thursdays, January 18 – March 7, 2024
6:00 – 8:30pm PST
All-Day Retreat (Online):
Saturday, February 17, 9am – 4pm PST
TEACHER
LOCATION
Offered Live Online. Zoom link will be sent to you by email once you register.
COST
$370 – $615 (or $93 – $154/month)
- Sliding scale: Choose what’s right for you.
- Payment plan option: 4-months, no-interest.
- Limited scholarships available: No need to apply; just choose a scholarship tuition during registration.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
CE Credits: APA approved credits are available for Nurses, Psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and LCSWs.
Clock Hours: Clock Hours are availabel for eligible Washington State (K-12) teachers, administrators, and educational staff associates.
See "Continuing Education Credits" below for details.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Wondering what this class is like? You can also sign up for a FREE 90 minute introduction to this curriculum:
The Mindful Self-Compassion Class is a treasure. The gentle, knowledgeable instructor offered the gift of the “power of the pause”—bringing intentional awareness to the moment, allowing freedom from the tyranny of reactivity. The practical and easy-to-understand practices we learned are invaluable tools for being more of my best self each day. This experience was a way to notice that each moment is an opportunity to be self-forgiving, and more expansive to others in my world.
Register for this program
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