Self-compassion involves treating ourselves kindly, like we would a good friend we cared about. Rather than continually judging and evaluating ourselves, self-compassion involves generating kindness toward ourselves as imperfect human beings. This workshop will provide simple tools for responding in a compassionate way whenever we are experiencing painful emotions. Through discussion, meditation, and experiential exercises, participants gain practical skills of mindfulness and self-compassion. A lecture on the theory and research into self-compassion will be provided, and several informal self-compassion practices for use in daily life will be taught. The phenomena of backdraft – adverse reactions to self-compassion practice – will be discussed. Finally, participants will learn self-compassion practices designed to work with difficult emotions, motivate oneself from a place of kindness rather than criticism, combat caregiver fatigue, and cultivate self-appreciation. This course is relevant for the general public as well as to practicing mental health professionals.

Sponsored by CAST Canada