About Our Courses & Workshops

The purpose of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion is to alleviate human suffering and to improve the collective well-being of our world through the practice of self-compassion. Below you can find information on our courses and workshops to support your MSC practice and learning.

Online Practice sessions

Circles of Practice

The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC) invites you to experience the transformative practice of Mindful Self-Compassion. MSC public practice circles are live, online, and supported by your generous donations. CMSC offers these Circles of Practice to increase awareness of self-compassion and share the practice of self-compassion globally. Find the offering that best fits your practice below.

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Recorded Video Workshop

Foundations of Mindful Self-Compassion Video Series

The Introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion workshop is in a 2.5-hour pre-recorded format with Kristin Neff, Ph.D. Co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and Co-developer of the MSC course.

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Online Course

Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion (LOMSC) Course

LOMSC offers around 95% of the material from the MSC program developed by Kristin Neff, PhD and Christopher Germer, PhD. The course is run weekly for 10 consecutive weeks (there may be a break for a week to accommodate holidays and teacher availability)

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Live Online Workshop

MSC Core Skills Workshop

This online workshop is taught by the developers of the MSC program, Chris Germer and Kristin Neff, and assisted by a team of mentors and affinity group leaders to provide a more personalized experience.  It contains the core concepts and practices from the 8-week MSC program and occurs over 4 sessions, 3 hours each. It is an ideal introduction to MSC for people who want to start integrating self-compassion into their personal and professional lives.

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Intensives

5 Day In-Person MSC Intensives

MSC activities include short talks, experiential exercises, meditation, group discussion, and home practices. Past intensives have been held in wellness and retreat centers around the United States with varied natural landscapes.

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Teen Programming

MSC Teens

Following in the footsteps of the adult MSC program and endorsed by MSC co-developers Chris Germer, Ph.D. and Kristin Neff, Ph.D., the teen adaptation is rooted in the three key components of self-compassion: self-kindness, common humanity and mindful, balanced awareness.

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Live online course

Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities

This abbreviated 6 hr MSC program (1hr each week or other format) was specifically designed for the healthcare professionals to address the unique time constraints, workplace culture, and stressors.

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Silent Retreats

Self-Compassion Retreats

A silent retreat is a vital way to go inward and nourish our personal meditation practice. It is life-enhancing for everyone who attends (virtual or in-person) and particularly important for those who work with mindfulness-based interventions. Silent retreats offer long-term benefits and a way to be in community with other human beings, honoring the varying degrees of our diverse backgrounds and lived experience.

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Live Online Workshops

Workshops with Kristin Neff

Created by Dr. Kristin Neff, these specialized workshops run three times a year. They include a satisfying mix of experiential learning and science-based insights.

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online practice sessions

Circles of Practice for MSC Graduates

As an MSC Graduate you are invited to join our free self-compassion practice circles created specifically for MSC Graduates (LOMSC 10-Week, MSC 8-Week, 5-Day Intensives).

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Live online workshops

Fierce Self-Compassion Workshop

Created by Dr. Kristin Neff, this three hour workshop draws on practices developed in her book Fierce Self-Compassion. It includes a satisfying mix of experiential learning and science-based insights.

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Workshop

Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame

This 2 part, 6-hour, online, experiential workshop includes talks, meditations, research, exercises, and discussion. Take a fresh, non-pathological look at shame through the eyes of compassion.

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Live online course

Fierce Self-Compassion Course

This unique 8 Week course explores the action-oriented side of self-compassion that begins with the  inner work of fierce self-compassion. Prior experience with self-compassion is recommended before taking this course. This course will take you one step further as you learn how self-compassion can help you speak up and claim your power.

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Live online course

Self-Compassion for Shame

Self-compassion is the antidote to shame. In this course, we’ll take a unique, non-pathological look at shame through the eyes of self-compassion.

After learning about the theory and research on shame, you’ll have an opportunity to explore the personal and cultural causes of shame in your own life within the context of self-compassion.

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professional training

MSC Teacher Training

The foundation for teaching MSC is to embody mindfulness and self-compassion, supported by a daily practice. Becoming an MSC teacher is a wholehearted and enriching endeavor. The training is designed for those who want to teach the full 8-Week MSC course, integrate mindfulness and self-compassion into their professional work (e.g., therapy, coaching, nursing, teaching), or have a professional interest in the field (e.g., researchers, administrators).

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professional training

MSC Teen Teacher Training

This journey requires a big heart and a passion for the well-being of teens. The MSC-T Teacher Online Training establishes a basic level of proficiency sufficient to begin offering the program to the general public.

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professional training

Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy (SCIP)

This program is a response to the growing acknowledgment among psychotherapists of the importance of self-compassion for mental health and wellbeing. It aims to equip therapists who have benefited from Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) practices with the skills to incorporate these principles into their clinical work.

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