Courses and Events
Mindful Self-Compassion: 8-Week Course with Amanda Votto and Emily Williams
Copper Beech Institute, West Hartford, CT
CLASS DATES / TIMES: Mondays, September 11, 18, 25 October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2023, from 6:30pm-9pm. This is an in-person course.
IDEAL FOR: All levels, including beginners
DESCRIPTION: Mindful self-compassion is a practice that directly cultivates goodwill toward ourselves, especially when facing challenges. This course combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to promote healing and well-being. While mindfulness teaches how to turn toward our challenges (whether physical, emotional or mental), self-compassion allows us to respond to these challenges with kindness and understanding. This course teaches how to befriend ourselves rather than judge, how to soothe ourselves in times of difficulty and how to to maintain a sense of well-being despite our challenges.
This is the standard eight-week Mindful Self Compassion course developed by Kristin Neff, Ph.D. and Chris Germer, Ph.D., both world-leading experts in self-compassion.
Studies have reported benefits of self-compassion practices, which include less depression, anxiety, and stress, improved coping skills, and greater social connectedness, optimism, and happiness.
In this 8-week course you will learn how to:
- Handle challenging emotions with greater ease.
- Quiet the inner critic.
- Befriend yourself.
- Relate to suffering from kindness.
- Transform difficult relationships.
Class Format will include lecture, discussion, guided meditation, written reflection, and small group sharing.
TUITION:
$485 : Covers all the expenses of the course and supports others who cannot afford to attend
$325 : Covers most of the expenses of the course
$150 : Covers some of the expenses of the course
Mindful Self-Compassion: Silent Half-Day Retreat
WHEN: October 22, 2023; 1pm to 5pm EST
IDEAL FOR: All levels including beginners
This 4-hour, silent mindful self-compassion retreat is an opportunity to practice both mindfulness and compassion in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Practices will be guided throughout the day to help foster an inner state of friendliness and compassion.
This retreat is part of the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) curriculum but is also open to any graduates of MSC or others with mediation background who would like to practice self-compassion practices.
Guided practices used throughout the retreat:
- Affectionate breathing
- Loving-Kindness for Ourselves
- Giving and Receiving Compassion
- Mindful walking
At the end of the retreat, you will have learned:
- How to relate to yourself with greater compassion
- Navigate challenges with curiosity and kindness
- Avoid provider burn-out by learning how to extend compassion to others without forgetting about yourself.
TUITION:
$80.00: Covers all the expenses of the program and supports others who cannot afford to attend
$65.00: Covers most of the expenses of the program
$50.00: Covers some of the expenses of the program
Mindful Self-Compassion: Befriending Ourselves
Day Retreat in Madison, CT with Amanda Votto & Emily Williams
IDEAL FOR: All levels including beginners
RETREAT DATE: August 13, 2023
RETREAT TIME: 9am to 4pm
LOCATION:
Copper Beech Institute
303 Tunxis Road
West Hartford, CT, 06107
DESCRIPTION: Have you ever wondered why we often treat our loved ones kinder than we treat ourselves? Or how we can truly befriend and accept all parts of ourselves? Mindful self-compassion is a practice that directly cultivates goodwill towards ourselves, especially when facing challenges. This day will include a combination of mindfulness and compassion teachings, group discussion, and guided practices. Through various guided practices, we will experience first-hand how mindful self-compassion can promote healing and well-being. We will learn how to turn toward challenges with kindness and understanding rather than judgement. We will also discover how to hold compassion for ourselves and others in a way that lessens burnout and empathy fatigue. Lastly, we will learn how to relate to the “inner critic” with kindness, transforming our inner relationship from judgement to compassion. Research demonstrates that self- compassion builds resilience, reduces provider burnout, depression, anxiety and improves social connectedness, happiness and coping skills. This day retreat is a wonderful opportunity for anyone considering doing the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion class that is offered at Copper Beech.
Techniques that will be used throughout the day include:
- Whole group lecture
- Small group break out exercises
- Personal mindful self-compassion practices including: affectionate breathing, soothing touch, giving and receiving compassion
- Journaling exercises
At the end of the day, we will have learned:
- What mindful self-compassion entails
- Common myths of self-compassion
- Various ways to practice mindful self-compassion
- Research and benefits of mindful self-compassion
TUITION:
$170.00 — covers all the expenses of the program and supports others who cannot afford to attend
$140.00 — covers most of the expenses of the program
$115.00 — covers some of the expenses of the program
