Mindful Self-Compassion Program
“Compassion is not an emotion, it is a motive,” Paul Gilbert, founder of Compassion Focused Therapy.
Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) is an 8-week training program designed to cultivate the skills and practices of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, MSC starts with this understanding that compassion is more than the feeling of kindness - it also requires wise effort and response, or what Neff calls both the Yin and the Yang. Over the 8-weeks you will learn core principles and practices for responding to external and internal stress and difficulty with more awareness, kindness and wisdom, in ways that benefit ourselves and all those around us.
While compassion is a central part of mindfulness practice, many of us bypass it because we don’t know how to actually practice it! We are kind to others but we struggle to extend this to our own selves, and instead accidentally ‘practice’ self-talk and thinking patterns that can feel harsh, critical, shaming or ruminative, especially if we are going through difficult times. Unlike self-esteem, self-compassion supports, motivates and connects us, no matter where we are in comparison to others, or what challenge, failure, loss or struggle we may be experiencing. For those of us who are health professionals, carers, parents or teachers, self-compassion has also been shown to protect from fatigue and burn out.
This 8 week course will include theory and practices for cultivating compassion. Recent research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships. The course is a great follow up for people who have completed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program, or have some other mindfulness practice experience, but is also suitable for beginners.
MSC includes 8 weekly sessions of 2.5 hours each, in addition to a full or half-day retreat. Participants are encouraged to plan to attend every session if possible, and to practice mindfulness and self-compassion for approximately 30 minutes per day throughout the program.
Mindful Self Compassion Online
The next Mindful Self Compassion training will be Live Online and commence Term 4, 2025 from Wednesday 15th October. MSC includes 9 sessions: 8 x 2.5-hour classes, plus four-hour Retreat.
7 x 2.5 hour sessions
6:30-9pm Wednesdays, beginning Wednesday 15th October 2025
Plus: Session 5 & Half-day Retreat 10am - 4pm Sunday 13th November 2025
VENUE
Online
FEES (prices inclusive of GST)
Full Fee Earlybird $560 (before 8th October if paid in full) $590
Concession Card Holder Earlybird (before 8th October if paid in full) $460 / Regular $490
Repeating MSC with Maggie $390
2 X $295 instalments also possible
Fees include: 24 hours class time, 80 page Coursebook/Journal & Full Set of MSC recorded practices for daily home practice.
Program
Session 1: Discovering Mindful Self-Compassion, Wednesday 15th October
Session 2: Practicing Mindfulness, Wednesday 22nd October
Session 3: Practicing Loving-Kindness, Wednesday 29th October
Session 4: Discovering Your Compassionate Voice, Wednesday 4th November
Retreat Day Comprising: 10am - 12noon Session 5 Living Deeply, followed by 12noon -4pm Half Day MSC Retreat Session 6 Meeting Difficult Emotions, Wednesday 5th November
Session 7: Exploring Challenging Relationships, Wednesday 12th November
Session 8: Embracing your Life, Wednesday 19th November
REGISTRATION
To secure your place, please enrol by filling in the enrolment form below, and pay your nominated amount via direct deposit to:
Bank Account Name: Margaret O'Shea
BSB: 633 000
Account number: 145643953
Reference: Your initials plus “MSC”
More about Maggie & her Mindfulness teaching
A meditator since 1994, Maggie has specialised in teaching mindfulness since beginning her teacher training with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) founders Jon Kabat-Zinn & Saki Santorelli in 2009. From 2010-2017 she offered local MBSR groups in addition to facilitating MBSR groups in Hawthorn each school term for Openground, Australia’s leading Mindfulness Teaching Training body. She is registered to teach the Mindful Self Compassion training (MSC) with the CenterforMSC; approved by Rick Hanson to teach his Positive Neuro-plasticity Training (PNT); and also offers her own Deep Rest program combining mindfulness with practices from the tradition of YogaNidra. An individual and relationship therapist, Maggie is also a registered Yoga teacher with Yoga Australia (350 hrs) and accredited to teach Brené Brown’s Daring Way and Rising Strong programs.