Participant Page – MSC Online Core Skills

Course dates

Wednesdays and Sundays
July 15, 19, 22, & 26
4  – 7 pm BST / 8 – 11 am PDT / 11 am – 2 pm EDT/ 3 pm UTC

Zoom Link for Main Sessions: Join Here

Zoom Guidelines: CMSC utilizes the Zoom platform for this training.  If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, please first review Zoom’s helpful audio, video, and Quick Start guides.  You can also log in 30 minutes before the first session to troubleshoot your connection. Additional Support and practice opportunities (see further down this page for details):

  • SC Mentoring: Engage with highly trained and experienced mentors for on-the-spot learning and application of Self-Compassion skills and teachings. Each Self-Compassion Mentor is a Certified MSC teacher, who has achieved the highest level of training in Mindful Self-Compassion. Optimize learning by attending additional interactive practice sessions.
  • Affinity Group: A group of Core Skills training participants who self-identify with a particular social-cultural identity (i.e. race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability-challenged, nationality, age, social class, etc.). With this shared identity they come together in a safe space to explore the intersection of their diverse experiences in relation to learning and practicing Mindful-Self-Compassion. Participants from underrepresented populations have an opportunity to create community and discuss the course experiences and learning with others who share the same social-cultural identity.

Program Materials:

5 Myths of Self-Compassion

MSC Core Skills Workshop Agenda

Online Handouts – Slides

Session Recordings

Sessions recordings will be posted  here on this page 1-2  days after each session. They will be available for viewing until August 10. They are not downloadable.

 

All Self-Compassion Mentoring Sessions and Affinity Groups: Join here

PRE-Program Guided Meditations: You are welcome to enjoy a Self-Compassion Meditation before the official start of the Core Skills Trainings on July 19, 22 and 26. Please arrive on Zoom by 3:30 pm BST.

Regardless of your comfort with the Zoom platform, we ask that all participants try to log in at least 5-10 minutes before the sessions begin so that you can be settled and ready to begin.

Program Contacts:
For Zoom Technical Issues:
Byron Wild: byronkwild@gmail.com
For Registration or Sussex Mindfulness Centre Related Questions:
Niki Larsen-Johnson: SMC@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk
For CMSC Program Related Questions:
Gail Stein: gail@centerformsc.org
For Self-Compassion Mentoring Questions:
Cassondra Graff: cpgraff@gmail.com
Sydney Spears: deepinsight4realtransformation@gmail.com
Ali Lambie:  alilambie@btinternet.com

Chris Germer’s website: https://chrisgermer.com/

Kristin Neff’s website:https://self-compassion.org/

Program Calendar
All times British Time
Click to join Affinity Group or Mentoring Zoom session
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
July 15:
Main Session 4-7
SC Mentoring 7-8		 July 16:
Affinity Group 4-5:15
SC Mentoring 6-7
 July 17:
SC Mentoring
11am-12pm		 July 19:
Main Session 4-7
SC Mentoring 7-8
July 20:
Affinity Group 4-5:15
SC Mentoring 6-7		 July 21:
SC Mentoring 4-5 		July 22:
Main Session 4-7
SC Mentoring 7-8		 July 23:
SC Mentoring 11am-12pm
Affinity Group 4-5:15
SC Mentoring 6-7		 July 25:
SC Mentoring 4-5
 July 26:
Main Session4-7
SC Mentoring 7-8
July 27:
Affinity Group 4-5:15

Self-Compassion Mentoring

A premium aspect of this Core Skills training is the unique opportunity to engage in virtual practice group sessions while going through the Core Skills program. Most trainings do not include this kind of opportunity. These extra practice sessions are designed to help you maximize learning and get a jump start on integrating Mindful Self-Compassion into your life. Engage with highly trained and experienced mentors for on-the-spot learning and application of Self-Compassion skills and teachings. Each Self-Compassion Mentor is a Certified MSC teacher, who has achieved the highest level of training in Mindful Self-Compassion. Optimize learning by attending additional interactive practice sessions.

Cassondra Graff, M.S.,LCSW Certified MSC Teacher

Cassondra is a mindfulness and compassion teacher and mentor with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC). She brings 22 years of experience as a licensed psychotherapist and mental health provider. Cassondra leads practice sessions designed to empower people to optimize the application of self-compassion into their lives.

Cassondra believes in the power of compassion to help us survive, thrive and navigate life, especially in challenging times.

Mentoring Practice Sessions Explained

Sydney Spears, Ph.D., LCSW.
Certified MSC Teacher

Sydney is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in working with trauma survivors and issues related to social-cultural identity. She is a passionate advocate of diversity, equity and anti-oppressive work and teaches academic diversity courses at the University of Kansas.

Affinity Group Practice Sessions Explained

Ali Lambie,  M.Sc.
Certified MSC Teacher and Teacher Trainer

Ali is a Certified Teacher and Teacher Trainer of MSC and this work is her passion. With an NHS background, these days Ali is fully self-employed teaching MSC to general populations and in workplace settings both where she lives in the south of England, further afield and online too. Ali hugely enjoys supporting others in learning and teaching the principles and practices of MSC which have been so transformative in her own life.

 

What you can expect from a Self-compassion mentoring session

  • Clarify what you are learning
    Apply skills immediately in real time
  • Address difficulties
  • Deepen your understanding of Self-Compassion
  • Review, personalize and apply practices
  • Optimize learning in community through Common Humanity

Schedule for Self-Compassion Mentoring Group Sessions

Please Note: To attend sessions directly after the conclusion of the Main Session, you will simply remain on Zoom. No need to switch to another Zoom link. For all SC Mentoring Sessions that meet OUTSIDE of the Core Skills Training Days please use this Zoom link.

Feel free to attend any or all of the following sessions:

  • Wednesday, July 15  7:00-8:00pm BST (Main Program Day)  Cassondra
  • Thursday, July 16  6:00-7:00pm BST  Ali
  • Friday, July 17  11:00am-12:00pm BST  Ali
  • Sunday, July 19  7:00-8:00pm BST (Main Program Day)  Cassondra
  • Monday, July 20  6:00-7:00pm BST  Ali
  • Tuesday, July 21  4:00-5:00pm BST  Ali
  • Wednesday, July 22  7:00-8:00pm BST (Main Program Day)  Cassondra
  • Thursday, July 23  11:00am-12:00pm BST Ali
  • Thursday, July 23  6:00-7:00pm BST  Cassondra
  • Saturday, July 25  4:00-5:00pm BST  Cassondra
  • Sunday, July 26  7:00-8:00pm BST (Main Program Day)  Cassondra

 

Affinity Groups

Affinity Group Practice Sessions with Sydney Spears, Affinity Group Mentor (Included in Program):

What is a Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) affinity group?

A group of Core Skills training participants who self-identify with a particular social-cultural identity (i.e. race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability-challenged, nationality, age, social class, etc.). With this shared identity they come together to explore the intersection of their diverse experiences in relation to learning and practicing Mindful-Self-Compassion. The intention is to provide a safe space in which participants from underrepresented populations have an opportunity to create community and discuss the course experiences and learning with others who share the same social-cultural identity. This can afford participants from the numerical minority greater accessibility to a supportive space for the cultivation of social-cultural identity affirmation, inclusiveness and belonging.

Mindful Self-Compassion Affinity Groups

  • Black, Indigenous and People of Color: BIPOC (underrepresented racial identities)
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Genderqueer, Intersex, Asexual, Pansexual and Other Identities: LGBTQIAP+ (sexual orientation, gender identity, nonbinary/gender expansion & expression)
  • Body-Based Ability Challenged (chronic pain, chronic medical conditions, physically challenged)
  • First Responders / Health Care Providers

Schedule for Affinity Group Sessions:

All three affinity groups meet on each day
Session 1 Thursday, July 16 4:00pm-5:15pm BST
Session 2 Monday July 20 4:00pm-5:15pm BST
Session 3 Thursday, July 23 4:00pm-5:15pm BST
Session 4 Monday, July 27 4:00pm-5:15pm BST

Please contact Sydney Spears by email 24 hours in advance of attendance at any of the above affinity group sessions at: deepinsight4realtransformation@gmail.com

In order to assist Sydney in placing you in the affinity group of your choice, please include your name and name of the affinity group you would like to attend.  Please know that you can just show up and attend any of the affinity groups sessions, if needed, and if you are unable to email Sydney ahead of time.
 

Link to join