1 3

October 21, Wednesdays 9-11:30am PT, Self-Compassion for Shame 8 Week Course

October 21, Wednesdays 9-11:30am PT, Self-Compassion for Shame 8 Week Course

  • Prequisites Required (See Below)
$695.00 USD
$695.00 USD $695.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Missed Discounts: Refunds will not be given for missed coupon codes or discounts.

October 21 - December 16 (skip Nov 25)
with Chris Germer and Laila Narsi

This course meets every Wednesday from 9:00 - 11:30 am Pacific Time. Click here to view a Time Conversion Chart.

Please note: This course also spans international daylight saving time changes (late October/early November), so participants joining from outside the U.S. should verify the meeting times using the Time Conversion Chart to ensure they attend at the correct local time.


Scholarships and Continuing Education Credits available, see below.

Welcome to this groundbreaking program developed by Dr. Chris Germer and the Self-Compassion for Shame development team! In this course, we’ll take a unique, non-pathological look at shame through the eyes of self-compassion and discover how self-compassion is the antidote to shame.
  • What would happen if you were able to care for yourself when you felt shame, rather than being immobilized by fear, attacking yourself, or zoning out?
  • How would your life be different if you could meet shame with compassion and stay connected, think in a balanced way, and make wise, healthy choices?
Special topics include how to use self-compassion to work with:
  • Mindfulness of Shame
  • Origins of Shame
  • Self-criticism
  • Body shame
  • Self-forgiveness
  • Hidden Parts
  • Social justice
Prior participants of the Self-Compassion for Shame 8-wk course reported:
  • 96% would recommend the course
  • 96% said their experience of shame changed as a result of the course
  • 89% would consider taking the course again
  • 85% had better mental and emotional wellbeing after the course

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.

Practice groups are a key component of this 8-week course to help participants deepen what they learn and integrate it into their daily life. Upon registration, you will be asked to submit your preferred days/times, in order from most preferred to least. We will do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferred schedule. If enrollment numbers require, we will add an additional group. 
  • Tuesdays, 9am - 10am, starting October 27 (skipping November 24 )
  • Mondays, 3pm - 4pm, starting October 26 (skipping November 23 )
  • Fridays, 9am - 10am,  starting October 22 (skipping November 27)
  • Saturdays, 9am - 10am, starting October 23 (skipping November 28)
Affinity Groups are an additional offering of this 8-week course to help participants who hold multiple identities explore how those identities intersect with what they are learning in their course - and how integrate it into their daily life. Affinity Groups this year will be offered at the following times:
  • LGBTQIA+ group with David Fredrickson
    Monday, November 9th, 9am - 10am, PT
    Monday, December 7th, 9am - 10am, PT

  • Visible/Invisible Disabilities with Evelyn Rodtmann
    Friday, November 6th, 11:00am - 12:00pm, PT
    Friday, December 4th, 11:00am - 12:00pm, PT

  • BIPOC group with Carolina Bautista-Velez
    Thursday, November 5th, 9am -10am, PT
    Thursday, December 3rd 9am-10am, PT


Meet Your Teachers

Chris Germer and Laila Narsi are both Certified Teachers of Mindful Self-Compassion.

Chris is also:

  • Christopher Germer, Ph.D., is a co-developer of the MSC program and a co-founder of the Center for MSC
  • Author of the popular book, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion
  • Co-author (with Kristin Neff) of the professional text, Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program and The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook
  • MSC Teacher Trainer and leads MSC intensives and workshops around the world
  • Clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School
  • Integrating principles and practices of meditation into psychotherapy since 1978
  • Co-edited two influential volumes: Mindfulness and Psychotherapy and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy
  • Founding faculty member of both the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School
  • Maintains a small private practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, USA, specializing in mindfulness and compassion-based psychotherapy

Laila is also:

  • Certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher trained by Drs. Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer in 2014
  • Founder of The Mindful Self, offering Trauma Informed Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion services since 1997
  • Certified in EMDR Therapy and an EMDR Approved Consultant specializing in PTSD, Complex trauma, Stress, Mood disorders, and Anxiety
  • Childhood meditation practice nurtured by parents, continued interest in mindfulness, diversity, cultural studies, human rights, and international arts
  • Traveled globally, working with various teachers, including Dr. Christopher Germer, bringing MSC to trauma specialists in Kenya
  • Co-taught Making Friends With Yourself (MSC for Teens) intensive course in Kenya
    Directly trained and mentored by Drs. Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Sharon Salzberg, and Steve Hickman
View full details

"Shame strikes at the core of our being, but has nothing to do with who we really are."

- Chris Germer

Shame is everywhere. Whenever we feel bad about ourselves, for whatever reason, there’s
usually a touch of shame in it. Shame keeps us from being more fully ourselves, and when it’s severe, it can even rob us of the will to live. Yet the power of shame lies in its being hidden. When we look at shame through the eyes of self-compassion, we discover something astonishing—that shame is an innocent emotion, arising from the universal human wish for love. Then, by giving ourselves the love we need, shame gradually loses its grip. Research shows that self-compassion is a powerful antidote to shame.

Course Details

  • Course Structure

    Prerequisites for registration:
    - Must be 18 years or older

    - Must have completed a 8-wk or 10-wk Mindful Self-Compassion Course or the 5-Day Intensive MSC Course.

    or alternatively

    - Must have completed an MSC workshop (minimum 3 hours), plus one year of self-compassion practice in daily life.

    Wondering if your experience meets the requirements? Please reach out at hello@centerformsc.org.

    SC for Shame 8 week course structure:

    • 8-week course with 20 hours of training — 20 hours of class time with optional practice groups for 1 hour per week.
    • Classes occur weekly for 2.5 hours each, with talks, exercises, meditation and group discussion
    • Small practice groups - 1 hour weekly, facilitated by SC-Shame Team instructors.
    • If you miss a session of the course, you will be able view the session recordings later that week. (Please note: 100% live attendance is required to receive Continuing Education Credits)

  • Who Should Attend

    This course is suitable for everyone who has completed the prerequisite instruction and who suspects or recognizes that shame may be limiting their full potential and who would like to learn new resources for shame in order to free up new ways of living.

    This includes any human being who would like to take next steps, with the support of self-compassion, to discover personal and unique ways to work with shame, and ultimately, to loosen the grip of shame. All are welcome: the general public, mental health and healthcare professionals, meditation and mindfulness instructors, yoga teachers, wellness coaches, and educators at all levels.

    SC-Shame is a resource-building program, just like the MSC program itself, rather than psychotherapy. However, since we will be touching shame with self-compassion, challenging emotions may arise. The teaching team is committed to co-creating, along with the course participants, a safe and rewarding learning experience.

    The skills and resources in this course can be applied on both a personal and professional level. As is true with MSC, we encourage all who take this course to take it first for yourself and know that this will provide you with the foundation needed to share it with others.

  • Learning Objectives

    Participants will be able to:

    1. Summarize the theory and research on shame and self-compassion

    2. Describe how self-compassion is an antidote to shame with the three paradoxes of shame

    3. Identify personal childhood and cultural disconnections that lead to shame

    4. Use self-compassion practices to alleviate body shame

    5. Direct self-compassion to relieve shame of hidden parts of ourselves

    6. Reduce habitual self-criticism by cultivating self-compassion

    7. Apply new self-compassion practices to relieve the burden of shame in daily life

  • Scholarships

    A limited number of scholarships are available. You can apply for a scholarship using the Scholarship Application. Places will be offered in  the order application forms are received. Places are confirmed once payment is received. (Please note that scholarships are based on personal financial need, separate from being financially over-extended or over-committed.)


    Access to Materials and Session Recordings

    After you complete each course or workshop, you'll have access to the content for 90 days if you want to review it at your convenience.


    Please note that we will record each live session, and the recordings will be available within 72 hours in the respective lesson of the course.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

- Marie Curie

FAQs & Important Information

If I'm unable to attend, can I request a refund?

Our entire Refund Policy is located here: https://centerformsc.org/cmsc-policies/

We encourage you to review the Refund Policy in its entirety. Below is important information that we would like you to be aware of before choosing to make a financial commitment with us.

All refund requests must be made via the refund request form at the link above.


Refunds must meet specific terms of eligibility to include the reason for requesting a refund.
Our Refund Policy (at the link above) includes details on when we are able and are not able to issue a full refund.


All refund request forms are reviewed by a small team of our staff. We ask for your patience and understanding when requesting a refund.


If you have any questions after reviewing our Refund Policy, feel free to reach out to us at hello@centerformsc.org

Important Info: Mindful Self-Compassion is not a substitute for Therapy

Our programs are designed to teach participants the tools needed to develop and cultivate a mindfulness and self-compassion practice.

It is not a substitute for mental health care, personal therapy or medical treatment.


Personal safety and emotional wellbeing are the foundation of self-compassion training and you are primarily responsible for your own safety.

Teachers and facilitators are not expected or able to provide medical and/or psychological care. Course experiences may bring up challenging memories or feelings.

If you have a history with a serious mental health condition or other concerns you think may impact your ability to take this course, please contact CMSC or your healthcare professional to determine if this course is right for you. Your personal contact information may be used in the event the teacher or facilitator reasonably determines a need to call emergency services on your behalf.

Important Info: Productive Participation in Courses & Workshops

Participation is at the discretion of the teachers and facilitators at all times.

If, in the opinion of the teachers and facilitators, you are unable to participate productively and appropriately in the course or workshop you have registered for, you may be asked to discontinue.

Decisions of removal are to ensure CMSC provides the safest space possible for our participants and teachers. Please see our refund policy regarding necessary participant removal.

Are there Continuing Education Credits for this course?

Fees for CE credit: $75

*Must attend all classes live to receive full credit amount.

Please see the dropdown box, below the course title, above the add to cart button to purchase.

For those licensed outside California, please check with your local licensing board to determine if CE credit is accepted.

CMSC is not responsible for ensuring credit acceptance across various state and local licensing bodies. That responsibility falls solely on the participant.

Feel free to email hello@centerformsc.org for any follow up CE questions.

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 20.0 CE 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. 20.0 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 24.0 CE credit.