MSC: MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION TEACHER TRAINING. June 2-7, 2014 EarthRise Retreat Center, Petulama, CA

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1 MSC: MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION TEACHER TRAINING June 2-7, 2014 EarthRise Retreat Center, Petulama, CA Faculty: Christopher Germer, PhD, Kristin Neff, PhD, Michelle Becker, LMFT, & Steven Hickman, PsyD For someone to develop genuine compassion towards others, first he or she must have a basis upon which to cultivate compassion, and that basis is the ability to connect to one s own feelings and to care for one s own welfare Caring for others requires caring for oneself. - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14 th Dalai Lama - Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an empirically-supported 8-week program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on pioneering research by Kristin Neff and integrated with the clinical perspective of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult emotions with care and understanding. The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to others, so that we know we aren t alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warmhearted, connected presence during difficult moments in our lives. Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn t receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable when they are good to themselves. It s a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we inflict on ourselves through selfcriticism, self-denial, or self-absorption. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, forgive ourselves, motivate ourselves with kindness, care for others, and be fully human.

2 Rapidly expanding research clearly demonstrates that self-compassion is related to emotional wellbeing, lower anxiety and depression, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and more satisfying personal relationships. Teacher Training The MSC program has been in development since 2009, and teacher training will start in the USA and Europe in A MSC training manual is also scheduled for publication in late 2014 (Guilford Press). The UCSD Center for Mindfulness will coordinate teacher training in the USA, in collaboration with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion ( MSC Teacher Training is an intensive, 5-day, residential program facilitated by a team of senior MSC teachers. The first half of the training is a condensed, experiential review of the MSC program, integrating short talks, meditation, group exercises, discussion, and periods of silence. The second half of the program focuses on how to teach the core themes and skills of each session in simulated, guided, small groups. Participants will be provided with the essential materials to teach MSC programs. Learning Objectives Deepen one s personal practice of responding to difficult emotions with mindfulness and compassion Understand the current theory and research on self-compassion Identify the core themes and practices presented in each of the eight group sessions of MSC, plus the retreat day Develop the skills necessary to facilitate MSC groups, including how to guide meditation, teach from each participant s direct experience, and facilitate group cohesion Identify obstacles to mindful self-compassion practice and strategies for overcoming them Embody a mindful and compassionate stance toward students of the MSC program as they confront challenges to their practice Target Audience This 5-day intensive is intended for those who wish to teach the MSC program, those who would like to integrate mindfulness and self-compassion in their ongoing professional activities (i.e., psychotherapy, coaching, nursing, teaching, etc.), and individuals who have a professional interest in the field (i.e., researchers, administrators, etc.). Applicants for MSC Teacher Training course are expected to have to have previously taken the MSC Training as a participant, have an established personal meditation practice, and have experience teaching meditation in group settings. To receive MSC teacher qualification (see below), graduates of the Teacher Training are also expected to receive

3 supervision for at least one 8-week MSC program, either by co-facilitating with a certified MSC teacher or through online consultation. The MSC program is ideally led by two teachers, at least one of whom is a licensed mental health clinician. Clinical training is helpful because self-compassion can activate strong emotions related to emotional pain experienced in earlier relationships, often going back to childhood. Therefore, if you wish to teach the MSC program and are not a clinician, try to find a clinical co-facilitator or teaching assistant. When teaching small groups (6-8 persons), please use your judgment regarding the need for a co-facilitator based on the population in your group. Participation in this teacher training is subject to approval by the teacher trainers. The prerequisites for taking the MSC Teacher Training are: Personal Skills 5 years of meditation practice, or 3 years plus retreat experience Ongoing, daily, sitting meditation practice Ongoing practice of loving-kindness (metta) and self-compassion in daily life Professional Skills Previous participation in 5-day or 8-week MSC Training Experience teaching meditation in groups, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or in clinical settings Application Upon submission of your registration, you will be asked to write and a short essay (less than two pages), including your: reason for attending this teacher training daily meditation practice, years practicing, retreat experience, and the tradition in which you practice professional training and/or experience teaching meditation date and location of the 5-day or 8-week MSC course you took as a participant brief curriculum vitae or resume Should your essay or qualifications not be accepted for admittance, a full refund will be granted. Teacher Qualification The purpose of the 5-day Teacher Training is to establish a basic level of training and proficiency sufficient to begin offering the program to the general public. The

4 requirements for teacher qualification are: Participation in a MSC Teacher Training Supervised teaching of one 8-week MSC program Upon completing these requirements, you can be listed in the directory of qualified MSC teachers on the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion website. Teacher Certification Qualification is a key step toward certification. Certification is a process of ensuring that an individual has achieved full competency through experience, training and supervision over a period of time and practice. By 2017, the Center for Mindful Self- Compassion will offer certification in conjunction with the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. Please contact us if you have further questions about the distinction between qualification and certification. Participant Guidelines Our ability to teach others depends largely on discovering the power of self-compassion in our own lives. Since the core principles and practices of the MSC program are taught primarily through direct experience, participants are encouraged to engage in the program primarily for personal development. Ample time will also be allocated for professional dialogue and the practical details of teaching. The MSC program is a journey an adventure in self-discovery and self-kindness. Lovingkindness and self-compassion training helps us soothe and comfort ourselves as it paradoxically reveals emotional distress we may have been unconsciously holding inside, often for many years. Therefore, some difficult emotions are likely to surface as we grow in our capacity to embrace them. This is intrinsic to the process of emotional transformation through self-compassion. Self-compassion thrives in an environment of safety, support, privacy, individual responsibility, and a common commitment to presence and compassion. Self-compassion practice should also be easy and enjoyable. The teacher trainers are dedicated to creating such a learning atmosphere for all workshop participants and their future students. The following reading is highly recommended, but not required, before the teacher training: Neff, Kristin: Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind Germer, Christopher: The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion Needs Assessment Over the past few years, mindfulness has become mainstream in the general population and is being increasingly integrated into professional practice (e.g., mental health, medical care, education, business, law). As the demand grows, the demand for quality professional training

5 in these practices and techniques is growing each year. Self-compassion is at the growth edge of mindfulness. It s a trending health term (Reader s Digest, 2012) and an area of burgeoning research. Self-compassion is the emotional heart of mindfulness. Due to the impressive scientific evidence for the connection between self-compassion and emotional wellbeing, and the need for explicit training in self-compassion, the MSC Teacher Training is offered at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. Faculty Bios Kristin Neff, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin. She was one of the first scholars to define and measure self-compassion in an academic context, has written numerous research articles on the psychological benefits of self-compassion, and is a co-developer of an empiricallysupported, 8-week MSC training program. Dr. Neff is the author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind. In addition, she is featured in the awardwinning book and documentary The Horse Boy, which chronicles her family s adventure with autism. Christopher Germer, PhD is a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in mindfulness and compassion-based treatment. He is a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School and a founding member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He co-developed the MSC program with Kristin Neff. Dr. Germer lectures internationally on mindfulness and self-compassion, is a co-editor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy, and author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion. Steven Hickman, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and Associate Clinical Professor in the UC San Diego Departments of Psychiatry and Family & Preventive Medicine. He is also the founder and director of the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. Dr. Hickman has been teaching mindfulness, in the form of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and more recently, Mindful Self-Compassion for twelve years and has co-led a number of MBCT teacher trainings as well. Michelle Becker, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice utilizing mindfulness and compassion-based psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and groups. She is the Director of Compassion Programs at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness where she teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) as a Senior Teacher. Accreditation Statement APA: (Full attendance is required): The University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry maintains

6 responsibility for this program and its content. BBS: Course meets the qualifications for 30.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. (UCSD Provider Number PCE 683). Cultural and Linguistic Competency California Assembly Bill 1195 requires continuing medical education activities with patient care components to include curriculum in the subjects of cultural and linguistic competency. It is the intent of the bill, which went into effect on July 1, 2006, to encourage physicians and surgeons, CME providers in the state of California, and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to meet the cultural and linguistic concerns of a diverse patient population through appropriate professional development. The planners, speakers and authors of this CME activity have been encouraged to address issues relevant in their topic area. In addition, a variety of resources are available that address cultural and linguistic competency, some of which are included in your syllabus or handout materials. Additional resources and information about AB1195 can be found on our website at Disclosures It is the policy of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor. All persons involved in the selection, development and presentation of content are required to disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest will be resolved prior to an educational activity being delivered to the learners through one of the following mechanisms 1) altering the financial relationship with the commercial interest, 2) altering the individual s control over CME content about the products or services of the commercial interest, and/or 3) validating the activity content through independent peer review. All persons are also required to disclose any discussions of off label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Persons who refuse or fail to disclose are disqualified from participating in the CME activity. Participants will be asked to evaluate whether the speaker s outside interests reflect a possible bias in the planning or presentation of the activity. This information is used to plan future activities. All faculty members listed above have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The CME staff, meeting planners, planning committee and CME committee reviewers do not have any relevant financial relationships to disclose. The views and opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine or University of California, San Diego Medical Center. Mission Statement The Mission of the University of California, San Diego Continuing Medical Education (UCSD CME) is to provide needs based education for physicians and health care providers to improve knowledge, competence and performance and enable the optimum provision of

7 health care. We are committed to continual improvement of our educational mission by researching current adult education and CME literature, participation in national organizations committed to improving CME, and implementation of innovative and creative programming that may further our mission. UCSD CME sponsors over 100 conferences per year, and produces many home-study programs. For more information visit our website at