The Mindful Self-Compassion Short Course (MSC-SC) is a 6-week adaptation of the full 8-week program. Grounded in the research of Kristin Neff, PhD, and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, PhD, the MSC program leads participants through the core principles and practices that help us bring kindness to our struggles, and experience more connection and resilience in our lives.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, and provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when we mess up, relate wholeheartedly and courageously with others, and live more authentically.

Research shows that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and more satisfying personal relationships.

At the completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Articulate the basic theoretical underpinnings and research findings related to self-compassion

• Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism

• Develop the capacity to contend with challenges and difficulties through awareness of self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.

• Apply core self-compassion practices into daily lifeThis program is designed for members of the general public, based on the values of equity, diversity, inclusiveness and belonging.

The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion includes 6 weeks of 90-minute sessions. Program activities include short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices.

Meditation experience is not necessary to participate in SC-MSC. All are welcome!

SC-MSC is an opportunity to explore how we typically respond when difficulties arise in our lives and to learn tools for becoming a warm and supportive companion to ourselves.

6 CE credits are available for available for this course.

Pennsylvania social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors: This program is approved by the APA through the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The APA is a pre-approved provider of courses and workshops for PA social workers (see PA code Section 47.36), marriage and family therapists (PA code Section 48.36), and professional counselors (PA code Section 49.36).

Nurses, Psychologists and MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs:

Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 7.0 CE credit

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 credits.

California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. 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.

The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program is an 8-week group course designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Grounded in the research of Kristin Neff, PhD, and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, PhD, the MSC program leads participants through the core principles and practices that help us bring kindness to our struggles, and experience more connection and resilience in our lives.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, and provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when we mess up, relate wholeheartedly and courageously with others, and live more authentically.

Research shows that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and more satisfying personal relationships.

This program will support you 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 appreciation

With self-compassion, we can motivate ourselves with encouragement, forgive ourselves when needed, face and befriend our shortcomings, care for others while caring for ourselves, and live more authentically.

The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course includes 8 weekly sessions of 2.5 hours , and one half-day mindfulness retreat. Each week builds on the previous one and participants who register for the course should be able to attend all or most of the 8 sessions. Program activities include guided meditation, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices.

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 that cultivates mindfulness as the foundation for compassion for self and others.

Prerequisites: The Mindful Self-Compassion program can benefit those we are new to mindfulness practices and also experienced meditators. No previous experience with meditation is required. Registration for the course is required, and participants are asked to provide background information when they register. For more information on MSC, please see www.CenterForMSC.org.

24 CE credits are available with this course.

Pennsylvania social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors: This program is approved by the APA through the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The APA is a pre-approved provider of courses and workshops for PA social workers (see PA code Section 47.36), marriage and family therapists (PA code Section 48.36), and professional counselors (PA code Section 49.36).

From UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness

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 24.0 hours of 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. 24.0 contact hours 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 APA accreditation meets their requirements.

Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 28.75 contact hours.