Chicago 2-day MSC Workshop for Caregivers

Teacher: Kristy Arbon

The Depression and Anxiety Specialty Clinic of Chicago is offering two days of mindfulness and self-compassion training. This workshop covers the core skills from the 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion program developed by Chris Germer and Kristin Neff, specifically oriented toward caregivers.

Self-compassion is the emotional attitude of bringing kindness to ourselves when things go wrong in our lives. Most of us easily treat our friends and loved ones with warmth, tenderness and patience when they struggle, fall short or fail, but we have a much harder time bringing those same qualities of compassion to ourselves in the same situations.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those of us ​who didn’t receive enough affection in childhood or who find it embarrassing to be kind to ourselves​. It’s a courageous mental attitude that stands up to harm, including the discomfort that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, and rumination when things go wrong. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, forgive ourselves, and respond to ourselves and others with care and respect.

After participating in this workshop, you will be able to:

Understand the physiology of self-compassion
Handle difficult emotions with greater ease
Take care of yourself while also taking care of others
Teach simple self-compassion exercises to clients

Program activities include talks, meditation, experiential exercises, and group discussion. Participants will directly experience self-compassion and learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life. No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend the program.