The Courage to Care
Compassion for Ourselves and Our World
October 10 | The Courage to Care Masterclass & Fundraiser
October 10 | The Courage to Care Masterclass & Fundraiser
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Saturday, October 10, 2026
9:00 AM–12:00 PM Pacific Time
12:00 PM–3:00 PM Eastern Time
4:00 PM–7:00 PM UTC
Live Online via Zoom
In honor of World Mental Health Day, join us for a three-hour live online masterclass and fundraiser, The Courage to Care: Compassion for Ourselves and Our World.
Through teaching, guided practice, and reflection, we’ll explore how self-compassion and courageous care can help us:
- Stay present in the face of uncertainty and upheaval
- Move beyond helplessness and disengagement
- Find strength in common humanity and community
- Find the courage to act with compassion for ourselves and our world
Featuring psychologist and best-selling author Rick Hanson, PhD; physician and MSC Teacher Chris Willard, PhD; and CMSC Education Director and MSC Teacher Trainer Lisa Baylis, MEd — with a welcome from CMSC Co-Founder Christopher Germer, PhD, and an opening meditation and introduction by CMSC Co-Founder Kristin Neff, PhD.
What You’ll Take Away
Through teaching, guided practice, reflection, and shared learning, you’ll explore:
- A broader understanding of compassion as a force for personal and collective well-being
- Practical ways to care deeply without becoming depleted
- A stronger sense of common humanity and connection in a divided world
- Ways to bring greater courage and compassion into everyday life and leadership
- Practices for moving from helplessness toward purposeful, compassionate action
Please Note
This is a live, three-hour online event held via Zoom.
Missed use of coupon codes or other credits cannot be refunded after purchase. Please review our full refund guidelines here.
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Why This Matters Now
We are living through a time of extraordinary uncertainty, division, and suffering. The sheer scale of what we encounter — in our communities, across the world, and often daily on our screens — can leave us overwhelmed, discouraged, distracted, or wondering what one person can possibly do.
It can be tempting to turn away, wait for someone else to respond, or protect ourselves by becoming numb. But compassion asks something more of us: to stay present without being consumed by what we see, to recognize our own limits, and to remember that how we respond matters.
The Courage to Care explores how self-compassion can help us remain open and engaged without asking us to push through overwhelm. It can help us recognize when we need to restore a sense of safety and capacity — and when we are ready to move toward challenge, growth, and courageous action with greater awareness, compassion, presence, and purpose.
We do not do this alone. Connection and community can help restore our capacity, strengthen our courage, and support more compassionate action.
At the heart of this masterclass is a question we’ll explore together:
How do we care deeply for ourselves and our world without becoming overwhelmed — and turn that care into courageous, compassionate action?
Agenda and Faculty
9:00 AM — Welcome
Chris Germer, PhD
CMSC Co-Founder, clinical psychologist, and lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
Chris co-developed the Mindful Self-Compassion program with Kristin Neff and has helped bring the practice of self-compassion to communities around the world.
9:05 AM — Opening Meditation & Introduction
Kristin Neff, PhD
CMSC Co-Founder, pioneering self-compassion researcher, and Founder of the Self-Compassion Institute
Kristin’s groundbreaking research and teaching have helped establish self-compassion as an evidence-based approach to well-being, resilience, and compassionate engagement.
9:15 AM — Keynote: Rick Hanson, PhD
Widening the Circle of “Us”: Creating Compassionate Systemic Change
Best-selling author, psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and founder of the Global Compassion Coalition, Rick Hanson brings together neuroscience, mindfulness, and practical psychology to explore how compassion can strengthen well-being, widen our sense of common humanity, and support meaningful action in the world.
10:15 AM — Chris Willard, PhD
Not Broken, Just Human: The Healing Power of Common Humanity
Chris Willard is a psychologist, author, Harvard Medical School faculty member, and global consultant whose work focuses on the Three R's—resilience, regulation, and relationships—and their impact on neuroscience, mental health, mindfulness, and more. He will share how compassion and common humanity deepen our connections and how mindfulness and compassion act as powerful social contagions.
11:00 AM — Break
11:15 AM — Lisa Baylis, MEd
Courageous Care in Action: Compassion for Everyday Life and Leadership
Lisa Baylis is CMSC’s Director of Education, an MSC Teacher Trainer, educator, and leadership consultant. With more than 20 years in education, she helps individuals and organizations bring mindfulness and self-compassion into everyday life, leadership, and community while sustaining care for themselves and others.
12:00 PM — Session Closes
FAQs & Important Information
What will I learn in this course?
Through teaching, reflection, and guided practice, participants will gain:
• A clearer and deeper understanding of compassion as a force for both personal and societal well-being
• Practical ways to care for others without burning out
• A deeper sense of common humanity in a fragmented world
• Tools for courageous and compassionate leadership in everyday life
• Practices for contributing to the common good with steadiness and care
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.
Continuing Education Credit Information
Fees for CE credit: $30 *Must attend all classes live to receive credits. Attendance will be taken, checked, and submitted.
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.
Feel free to email hello@centerformsc.org for any follow up CEU/CME 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 11.0 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. 11.0 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 13.0 contact hours.