[CMSC News]??August 2024: Strengthening Adolescent Wellness through Self-Compassion

Special Guest Introduction by CMSC Education Director, Lisa Baylis (she/her)

Hello Friends of Self-Compassion,

As we welcome August, a month often associated with transitions and preparations for the upcoming school year, we want to highlight the work of educators and parents who work with youth and celebrate how the practice of self-compassion can support them in this role.

This time of year can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety, and practicing self-compassion can be a powerful way to navigate these emotions. Parenting with self-compassion involves nurturing ourselves as we nurture our children. It's a gentle reminder to treat ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we offer to our kids. By acknowledging our shared human experience, we recognize that it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them. Staying present with our children, whether through shared activities or simple everyday routines, fosters deeper connections and emotional resilience. This journey is about creating a compassionate and supportive environment for both ourselves and our children, inviting us to return to our own practice of self-care and mindfulness as we navigate the beautiful complexities of parenting.

Being an educator or parent is a demanding and often stressful role. By practicing self-compassion as adults, we can model healthy emotional behavior for our children and youth. As a mom of two young teenagers and an educator who spent twenty years working in high schools, self-compassion was my foundation for supporting myself while helping my kids.

Here are a few gentle reminders of how we can support ourselves when moments get tough with our teens and youth:

• Acknowledge Your Feelings: It’s okay to feel overwhelmed or frustrated. Recognize these feelings without judgment and remind yourself that it’s normal to have them.
• Practice Self-Kindness: Speak to yourself in a supportive and encouraging manner. Replace self-criticism with words of kindness and understanding.
• Mindfulness: Stay present in the moment and avoid getting caught up in negative thoughts about the past or future. This can help in responding to your child’s needs more effectively.
• Model Self-Compassion: Let your children see you being kind to yourself. This teaches them that it’s okay to make mistakes and that they should treat themselves with the same kindness.

Some of you may be wondering how you can help your children and teens develop self-compassion to support their emotional well-being. Here are a few ways I bring self-compassion into my family and work:

• Encourage Open Conversations: Create a safe space for your children to talk about their feelings. Listen without judgment and validate their emotions.
• Teach Mindfulness: Introduce mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing or meditation, to help them stay grounded and present.
• Again: Model Self-Compassion: Demonstrate how you practice self-compassion in your daily life. Share your experiences and how you deal with difficult emotions.
• Encourage Positive Self-Talk: Help them reframe negative thoughts and encourage them to speak kindly to themselves.
• Normalize Imperfection: Emphasize that making mistakes is part of learning and growing. Encourage them to see challenges as opportunities for growth.

I’m thrilled that we have an upcoming offering for parents this August and more coming up in the next few months for you to join us on this journey of self-compassion with youth and teens. Whether you are a parent, guardian, educator, or mentor, embracing self-compassion can create a nurturing environment for both you and the youth you support.

May August be a month of kindness, understanding, and growth.

Lisa Baylis CMSC Education Director, Certified MSC Teacher

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COMPASSIONATE NEWS

Exploring Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens: A Promising Approach to Subsyndromal Depression

We are excited to highlight a research study titled "Feasibility, acceptability, and depression outcomes of a randomized controlled trial of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens (MSC-T) for adolescents with subsyndromal depression." Conducted by Karen Bluth, Christine Lathren, Jinyoung Park, Chanee Lynch, John Curry, April Harris-Britt, and Susan Gaylord, this research explores the potential benefits of MSC-T in reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents. Join us as we delve into the study's findings and their implications for supporting teen mental health.

Read Full Study Here

Are you an MSC Graduate who would like to support Teens with MSC? Our next Online Teen Teacher Training is taking applications now, learn more here .

Meditation: Loving Kindness for Someone You Care About with Dr. Karen Bluth

Step into a space of greater compassion for yourself and a loved one with Certified MSC teacher, author, and co-creator of the CMSC’s Mindful Self-Compassion Teen Program, Dr. Karen Bluth. This meditation will connect you to the beauty of breathing kindness for yourself and others, guiding you to a deeper understanding of love in action.

Watch on YouTube

FEATURED EVENTS AND COURSES

Parenting Children with Self-Compassion Workshop with Jamie Lynn Tatera

Tuesday, August 27th 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PT

Cost: $49

Parenting can be challenging! Practicing self-compassion can help us manage the ups and downs of parenting, and modeling self-compassion can help our children grow self-compassion, too.

Join Jamie Lynn Tatera, creator of the Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers program, to learn a framework for growing self-compassion and resilience that can both help you support yourself as well as help your children to thrive.

You can expect to learn:

• Self-compassion strategies to increase acceptance, compassion, empowerment, and connection
• Playful ways to help yourself and your kids be mindful of your feelings and feelings habits
• Steps to help children grow self-compassion
• A framework for growing your own resilience that can be used to help kids build resilience habits

Who Should Attend: Parents of children aged 4-12, as well as educators, and clinicians who would like to grow self-compassion and help children to do the same.

Register Here

DEIB Empowerment Series with Dr. Robyn L. Gobin

Equity, Equality and Mindful Self-Compassion

August 20, 9 -10 am PT

Cost: $35

Equity, Equality and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), where we align our mission of fostering compassion with the imperative pursuit of equity and equality. In this session, we delve into the crucial definitions and concepts of equity and equality, particularly within the workplace, to foster understanding and create inclusive environments. Through mindful exploration, we will identify and address unconscious biases and discrimination that may hinder progress toward these ideals. By promoting equity and equality within ourselves, we not only cultivate a more compassionate society but also pave the way for transformative change. Don't miss this opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies for building a more just and equitable world. Be part of this important conversation and drive positive change within yourself and your community.

Learn More & Register

Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame: Antidote to Shame Workshop

September 4th & 6th 2024, 9am - 12pm PT

This workshop meets Wednesday and Friday, 9:00am - 12:00pm PT, you can check your local time here .

Cost: $225

Join Chris Germer, and Carolina Bautista-Velez, for a 6-hour, online, experiential workshop including talks, meditation, research, exercises, and discussion. We will take a fresh, non-pathological look at shame through the eyes of compassion.

Self-Compassion is an antidote to shame. It’s the opposite of shame—self-kindness instead of self-criticism, common humanity instead of isolation, and mindfulness instead of rumination. The process of alleviating shame begins by recognizing that shame is an innocent emotion—it arises from the universal wish to be loved. If we didn’t wish to be loved, we wouldn’t feel shame. The next step is to give ourselves the compassion we so desperately need—self-compassion.

In this workshop, we will explore the nature of shame, its causes (including discrimination and social oppression), and learn simple skills to detect shame in our daily lives and transform it, safely and effectively, through the power of self-compassion. Meditation practitioners will be able to integrate these tools into their contemplative practices and psychotherapists will learn new skills to work with shame in clinical settings. This workshop is relevant for the general public as well as to practicing mental health professionals.

Learn More & Register

Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion (LOMSC)

Learn the full practices and theories of self-compassion in our 10-week, live online programs! LOMSC is taught by certified MSC teachers around the world and helps you establish a consistent self-compassion practice founded in research and science. You'll learn how self-compassion can lessen anxiety, depression and stress and improve your relationships, health, and resilience. Join a course today. Courses available monthly. Explore all upcoming LOMSC dates .

FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Circles of Practice - Free Online Daily Meditations

Our MSC Circles of Practice program is a donation-based offering to our community and the public. CMSC offers 100 monthly free online daily practice sessions, all led by volunteer MSC teachers and supported by donations.These self-compassion meditation sessions are available on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Click on the links below to learn more and register for a session.

Join a session today:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Learn how Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy can benefit you and your clients.

Over the past 16 years, research has established that self-compassion is a key ingredient in mental health and psychological wellbeing.

Compassion-based psychotherapy has also been shown to alleviate a wide range of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance dependency. Self-compassion also appears to be an underlying mechanism by which other kinds of therapy seem to work. As a result, psychotherapists and other healthcare professionals are eager to integrate self-compassion more fully into their clinical work.

Apply for our Fall 2024 Cohorts now and save $300*!

Learn More & Apply Here

*Prerequisites for acceptance into the program, please review before applying.

Looking for something else? Visit our new website and explore other courses and events on the horizon.

The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion is an international nonprofit organization that serves over 250,000 people in our global community. We are dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving the collective well-being of the planet through scientifically researched self-compassion training and practice. Our vision is a world where each person matters and everyone belongs. Your donations allow us to share self-compassion training around the world and keep Circles of Practice free to those in need. Thank you in advance for any support you are inspired to donate .