Registration will open April 1, 2024 and early bird registration rates will be available until December 31st, 2023. Please email vickipawlowski@gmail.com if you would like to be notified when registration opens for this program.
Description
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an evidence-based training program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Kristin Neff (Ph.D.) and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer (psychologist), MSC teaches core principles and practices that enables us to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care, and understanding.
Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others, and be more authentic ourselves.
After participating in this workshop, you’ll be able to:
- Practice self-compassion in daily life
- Understand the evidence-based benefits of self-compassion
- Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism
- Handle difficult emotions with greater ease
- Transform challenging relationships, old and new
- Manage caregiver fatigue
- Practice the art of savouring and self-appreciation
What To Expect
Program activities include learning sessions, experiential exercises, guided meditations, group discussions, and personal reflection time. Participants are invited to directly experience self-compassion and learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life. MSC is primarily a compassion training program, although mindfulness is the foundation of self-compassion. MSC is also not psychotherapy insofar as the emphasis of MSC is on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Positive change occurs naturally as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way.
It is said that “love reveals everything unlike itself.” While some difficult emotions may arise when practicing self-compassion, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey interesting and enjoyable for everyone.
No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend MSC. To insure safety, participants are asked to provide background information when they register for the program.
This program fulfills one of the prerequisites for becoming a MSC teacher. For more information on MSC and MSC Teacher Training, please visit www.CenterForMSC.org
Teachers
Victoria Pawlowski is a registered clinical counsellor and certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher who has been practising, studying and teaching MSC at Bethlehem since 2014. She is grateful for her co-teachers, mentors and all the participants who have shared this path of learning to turn towards our difficult experiences with the balm of self-compassion. Victoria is passionate about contributing to a more compassionate world through the development of personal skills and resources that can help us our include ourselves in our big arms of compassion for others.
Kristy Williams is a teacher of mindful self-compassion family physician and parent who is continually humbled by the breadth of being human in these times. She is passionate about learning and sharing in community and finds MSC skills essential for her personal well being. She offers one on one care as a physician and has offered programs since 2018 to the public (specifically to those training and working in health care.) She has trained in trauma-sensitive mindfulness, embodied practice, attending to grief and socially engaged Buddhism and strives to integrate and embody these concepts into her teaching.
Date and Time Details
Starts March 24
Day 1. March 24 Sunday from 3:00 5:30 pm
Day 2: March 25 Monday morning 9 am – 12 noon and 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Day 3: March 26 Tuesday morning 9 am – 12 noon and 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Day 4: March 27 Wednesday 1/2 Day Silent Retreat 9 am – 12 noon/afternoon free
Day 5: March 28: Thursday 9 am – 12 noon and 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Day 6: March 29: Friday 9 am – 12 noon followed by final group luncheon
LOCATION: Bethlehem Centre
ADDRESS: 2371 Arbot Road, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
COST (includes program fee) Canadian funds
- Lake View Rooms (Shared Washrooms) – CAD $1,955.00
- Standard Room (Single or Double Bed; Shared Washroom) – CAD $1,755.00
- Commuter Option – CAD $1,330.00
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Book before Dec 30th, 2023 and get CAD $105.00 off these listed prices.