Kristin Neff – The Power of Mindful Self-Compassion

The Power of Mindful Self-Compassion will provide tools for responding in a kind, compassionate way whenever we are experiencing painful emotions.

For many years self-esteem was seen to be the key to psychological health. Thanks to conclusive research, we now know of several downsides to the endless pursuit of self-esteem such as constant social comparisons, and instability of self-worth.

Join world-renowned Self-Compassion expert, Dr. Kristin Neff, and learn first-hand how self-compassion is a healthier way of relating to oneself, offering all the benefits of self-esteem without its downsides.

Rather than continually judging and evaluating ourselves, self-compassion involves generating kindness toward ourselves as imperfect humans, and learning to be present with the inevitable struggles of life with greater ease. It motivates us to make needed changes in our lives not because we’re worthless or inadequate, but because we care about ourselves and want to lessen our suffering.

This workshop will provide tools for responding in a kind, compassionate way whenever we are experiencing painful emotions. We all want to avoid pain, but letting it in—and responding compassionately to our own imperfections without harsh self-condemnation—are essential steps toward living happier, more fulfilling lives.

Through discussion, meditation, and experiential exercises, you will gain practical skills to help bring self-compassion into your daily life and techniques to give your clients.

Armed with greater self-compassion your clients will be better able to manage their depression, anxiety, despair, shame and trauma. Teach your clients how to overcome difficult emotions with greater ease and to better self-motivate with kindness rather than criticism.

Practices will also be introduced to help ease stress for caregivers. This course is relevant for all mental health and healthcare professionals – and is of immediate personal benefit to all who watch.

What You’ll Learn In The Power of Mindful Self-Compassion

• Introduction
• Exercise: How do I treat a friend?
• Self-Compassion Theory and Research
• Exercise: Soothing Touch/Self-Compassion Break
• Meditation: Affectionate Breathing
• Mindfulness, Stress and Resistance
• Backdraft
• Meditation: Loving-kindness for a loved one
• Why do we criticize ourselves?
• Exercise: Compassionate motivation
• Self-Compassion for Caregivers
• Exercise: Giving and receiving compassion with equanimity
• Working with difficult emotions
• Exercise: Soften, soothe, allow
• Self-appreciation
• Exercise: Appreciating what’s good about ourselves

About Kristin Neff

Kristin Neff, PhD, is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion over a decade ago.

Kristin’s work has received extensive media coverage, including The New York Times, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Reader’s Digest, and Psychology Today. She provides workshops on self-compassion worldwide, and has developed an eight-week program to help people learn to be more self-compassionate in daily life.

Kristin is also featured in the bestselling book and award-winning documentary The Horse Boy (www.horseboyworld.com), which chronicles her family’s journey to Mongolia where they trekked on horseback to find healing for her autistic son.

She received her doctorate in Human Development from the University of California at Berkeley and is currently an Associate Professor of Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to writing numerous academic articles on the topic, she is author of the book “Self-Compassion,” released by William Morrow in 2011.

Information on self-compassion – including videos, guided meditations, exercises, research articles, and a way to test your own self-compassion level – is available at www.self-compassion.org.

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