Participant Page

Course dates

Wednesdays and Saturdays May 27, 30, & June 3, 6 2 pm – 5 pm EDT / 1 pm – 4 pm CDT / 11 am – 2 pm PDT/ 6 pm UTC

Register for your personal Zoom login link here Please note! The above link is only to register. You will receive your unique personal login link by email. Zoom Guidelines: CMSC utilizes the Zoom platform for this training. It is imperative that you register for the session, even if you already have a zoom account. 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.

CE Policy: CMSC is offering CE credits for Psychologists, Nurses, etc. (see end of this page for more information) Program Materials: MSC Core Skills Workshop Agenda Online Handouts – Slides

Session Recordings

Available for viewing until June 20

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 May 30, June 3 and June 6. Please arrive on Zoom (using your unique personal login link) by 1:30 ET

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: [email protected]
For Program Related Questions:
Laura Stein: [email protected]

For Self-Compassion Mentoring Questions:
Cassondra Graff: [email protected]
Sydney Spears: [email protected]

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

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

Zoom Registration:

Everyone must register for the main meeting with the email address you used when you signed up for the course. We need you to do this even if you already have a Zoom account as an added security measure to protect access to the training. You will only need to register once and you’ll receive a unique personal login link that you will use for every session in the training.

This personal login link will come in a separate confirmation email and is below the dates and times: “Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: Click Here to Join”.

(Again, register through this link to receive a personal login link that you will need to use for every session: Registration URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtde2vpj0oGdGTFbntYUNjRkX43C91xtAJ )

Program Calendar
All times Eastern
Click to join Affinity Group or Mentoring Zoom session
To Join Main Session, use your unique personal link you received after registering with Zoom
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
May 27:
Main Session 2 - 5
SC Mentoring 5 - 6		 May 28:
Affinity Group 2 - 3		 May 29:
SC Mentoring 2 - 3
 May 30:
Main Session 2 - 5
SC Mentoring 5 - 6
 May 31:
Affinity Group 7 - 8
June 1:
SC Mentoring 2 - 3		 June 2:
SC Mentoring 1 - 2
SC Mentoring 3 - 4
SC Mentoring 6 - 7		 June 3:
Main Session 2 - 5
SC Mentoring 5 - 6		 June 4:
Affinity Group 2 - 3		 June 5:
SC Mentoring 1 - 2
SC Mentoring 3 - 4
SC Mentoring 5 - 6		 June 6:
Main Session 2 - 5
SC Mentoring 5 - 6		 June 7:
Affinity Group 2 - 3

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

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.

Sydney Spears, Ph.D., LCSW.

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.

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, May 27 5:00pm-6:00pm Eastern Time (Main Program Day)
Friday, May 29 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time
Saturday, May 30 5:00pm-6:00pm Eastern Time (Main Program Day)
Monday, June 1 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time

 

Tuesday, June 2 – Note: 3 Sessions Offered Today:
1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern Time
3:00pm-4:00pm Eastern Time
6:00pm-7:00pm Eastern Time

 

Wednesday, June 3 5:00pm-6:00pm Eastern Time (Main Program Day)

Friday, June 5 – Note: 3 Sessions Offered Today:
1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern Time
3:00pm-4:00pm Eastern Time
5:00pm-6:00pm Eastern Time

Saturday, June 6 5:00pm-6:00pm Eastern Time (Main Program Day)

 

CE Policy:

  • In order to receive CE credits you must attend the whole course. Credit will not be given for partial attendance. Online attendance will be monitored by staff.
  • There will be an online evaluation to fill-out which will be emailed to you a few days after the workshop.
  • CE Certificates will be emailed 4-6 weeks after the course.

Please click on this link for more information about Continuing Education credits. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

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

  • People of Color (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)

Schedule for Affinity Group Sessions: All three affinity groups meet on each day
Session 1 Thursday, May 28 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time
Session 2 Sunday, May 31 7:00pm-8:00pm Eastern Time
Session 3 Thursday, June 4 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time
Session 4 Sunday, June 7 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time

Link to join