Fall MSC course · Registration now open Starting September 15 Limited to 10 participants Register Now →
Mindful
Self-Compassion (MSC).
You've spent years being there for everyone else. This is eight weeks of learning to be there for yourself.
Registration
How registration works.
Registering for MSC is a simple process with a few steps. During registration, we ask participants to provide some personal information to help teachers determine readiness and safety for this type of emotional work.
Fill out the form to the right
Just the basics: your name, contact information, and a few details to get started. After submitting, you'll receive an email with instructions to create an account on a secure portal to complete the remaining steps.
You'll receive a short background form
You'll receive a confidential MSC Background Form through the secure portal with a few questions and space to share what's bringing you to MSC. Only your facilitators have access to this information, and we review it to ensure the course is a good fit at this time. If anything suggests it might not be the right time or that more information is needed, we'll reach out directly to have a brief conversation.
Sign the liability and consent form
This is also completed through the secure portal and outlines what MSC is (and is not), along with the cancellation policy.
You'll receive a payment link
Once your forms are completed, you'll receive a payment link to complete your enrollment. You can pay in full or choose a two-payment plan. Your spot is confirmed once the first payment or full payment is received.
Not sure yet? Learn more about the course below or browse the FAQs.
Step 1 of 4 · Begin here
Fall 2025 MSC Registration
Fill out the form below to start the process. You'll hear back within a few business days with next steps.
Submitting this form is not a payment and does not hold your spot. Enrollment is confirmed once all four steps are complete and payment is received.
What is MSC?
Learning to be your own
compassionate friend.
Think about how you respond when a close friend is struggling. You likely listen, offer comfort and support. You don't tell them to just get over it.
Self-compassion is extending that same attitude toward yourself — especially in moments of failure, difficulty, or pain. It sounds simple. For most of us, it's anything but.
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an evidence-based 8-week program developed by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer that teaches practical skills for cultivating self-compassion. Rather than simply learning about self-compassion, you'll experience and practice it in ways that can support you in everyday life.
"A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life." — Christopher Germer
Research consistently shows that self-compassion is strongly associated with greater emotional wellbeing, less anxiety and depression, reduced stress, healthier habits, and more satisfying relationships.
MSC is an evidence-based skills training program, not therapy and not a substitute for therapy. The emphasis is on building self-compassion and emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. While participants often find the experience meaningful and sometimes therapeutic in effect, the course is designed to teach skills that can be applied in daily life. For mental health professionals, it also provides a foundation for integrating self-compassion practices into clinical work.
For a research review, see Neff (2023). To learn more about MSC, visit centerformsc.org.
The three components of self-compassion
What self-compassion
actually is.
Self-compassion is learning to treat yourself the way you would treat a friend who is having a difficult time. More fully, it includes three core components that support us during life's inevitable challenges.
Mindfulness
Noticing when you're suffering without over-identifying with it. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment so we can acknowledge our experience with greater clarity and ease.
Common Humanity
Recognizing that suffering and imperfection are part of the shared human experience. You are not alone in your struggles — this is what it means to be human.
Self-Kindness
Responding to yourself with warmth and understanding rather than harsh judgment. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering so we can give ourselves what we actually need.
Who this course is for
You'd never speak to a friend
the way you speak to yourself.
MSC is for people who are exhausted by their own inner critic. People who extend endless patience and kindness to everyone around them and have very little left for themselves. People who know they should be kinder with themselves, but are not sure how to actually do that.
It's especially meaningful for caregivers, healthcare providers, therapists, teachers, and parents — people whose work asks them to give so much that replenishing their own reserves becomes an afterthought. But MSC is open to all adults, and no prior meditation or mindfulness experience is required.
Courses are held in small groups of 8–10 participants, co-facilitated, and intentionally kept small. One of the things people often find most surprising about MSC is how much the group matters. The work is deeply personal, but something shifts when you sit with others doing the same inner work and realize you are genuinely not alone in your struggles. Common humanity stops being a concept and becomes something you can actually feel. Read more about why self-compassion flourishes in community.
For many people, there's skepticism about whether they can actually become more self-compassionate. Self-compassion is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened over time and that's exactly what MSC is designed to support.
People who complete MSC often find they can:
- — Practice self-compassion in daily life
- — Motivate themselves with kindness rather than criticism
- — Handle difficult emotions with greater ease
- — Manage caregiver fatigue and compassion burnout
- — Transform challenging relationships
- — Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation
Course structure
What the 8 weeks
look like.
Weekly sessions
- 1Discovering Mindful Self-Compassion
- 2Practicing Mindfulness
- 3Practicing Loving-Kindness
- 4Discovering Your Compassionate Voice
- 5Living Deeply
- ★Half-Day Silent Retreat
- 6Meeting Difficult Emotions
- 7Exploring Challenging Relationships
- 8Embracing Your Life
What each session includes
Each session includes guided meditations, short talks, experiential exercises, small and large group discussions, journaling, and home practices. The course is designed to be experienced, not just learned.
The group is a meaningful part of that experience. Practicing self-compassion alongside others and being witnessed doing it creates a sense of belonging and shared humanity that's difficult to replicate on your own.
Your course fee includes a copy of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, an extensive course workbook with handouts and resources, and access to guided audio practices to support you between sessions.
This program fulfills one of the prerequisites for becoming an MSC teacher. For more information, visit centerformsc.org.
MSC is approved for 24 Continuing Education (CE) Credits through the Ohio CSWMFT Board (Approval #RCST012601). If you are a professional in a different field, please check with your licensing board to confirm eligibility or reciprocity.
8
Weekly sessions
2.5h
Per session
4h
Half-day retreat
24
CE credits
See what MSC is about
An introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion.
What past participants say
In their own words.
Shared by past participants, with permission.
"This class felt like a beacon of light in a very heavy world. I've practiced mindfulness for years, which has helped create quiet and a 'slowing down' for me. But this class added such a soft place to land within myself. My own best friend. What a gift!"
"I cannot offer a higher recommendation than to say what a testament this course is to loving self-care!"
"This class brought joy and creativity to the surface. Lovely, highly skilled instructors. Worth the time investment for yourself and others who will also benefit."
"Learning there are different ways you can treat yourself that isn't negative or harsh but is grounded in love is extremely liberating."
"This is my first introduction to mindful self-compassion and I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I took from it. It was a great learning opportunity both personally and professionally. I gained substantial value from the opportunity of structured practice and appreciated the variety of ways to both practice and reflect — individually and as a group. I appreciate the consistent encouragement to check in on the zones of comfort and lean back or let go whenever needed. Overall, this was a great experience that I will carry forward in my life."
Common questions
MSC FAQs.
How much time does the course require?
The course includes eight weekly sessions of 2.5 hours each, plus a half-day retreat of 4 hours — a total of 24 hours of instruction. You should also plan to practice mindfulness and self-compassion for at least 30 minutes a day throughout the course.
Do I need prior experience with mindfulness or meditation?
No prior experience is necessary. The course is designed to be accessible to beginners while also deepening the practice for those with prior mindfulness experience.
What is the class size?
Classes are limited to 8–10 participants to foster an intimate and supportive environment. A minimum of 8 participants is required for the course to run.
Who are the facilitators?
MSC is co-facilitated by Linnea Clouse, LPCC, LICDC, ATR-BC, and Jennifer Stauffer, MSW, LISW-S. Both are mental health professionals with backgrounds in facilitating mindfulness-based groups. Linnea is a Trained MSC Teacher through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
Do you offer Continuing Education (CE) credits?
Yes. MSC is approved for 24 CE credits through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board — Approval #RCST012601. If you are a professional in a different field, please check with your licensing board to confirm eligibility.
Is this therapy?
MSC is an evidence-based skills training program, not therapy and not a substitute for therapy. The emphasis is on building self-compassion and emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. While participants often find it meaningful and sometimes therapeutic in effect, MSC is not group therapy and should not replace professional mental health treatment.
If you are currently in therapy, MSC can complement that work well. If you're unsure whether MSC is right for you at this time, feel free to reach out and we can talk it through.
What if I can't attend all the sessions?
We ask that you commit to attending all sessions, including the half-day retreat, as each class builds on the previous one. If you anticipate missing more than one session, we recommend waiting for a future course to get the full experience. That said, life happens — if something unexpected arises, your facilitators will help you catch up on missed content. For participants receiving CE credit, missed time is deducted from the total approved hours. For example, if one 2.5-hour session is missed, the total CE credit would be 21.5 hours (out of 24).
What is the cancellation policy?
A full refund (minus a $50 processing fee) is available for participants who withdraw at least one week before the first class. A 50% refund (minus a $50 processing fee) is available if requested before the start of class two. No refunds are issued after class two. Refunds are processed within 10 business days.
For participants using a payment plan, the total course fee and refund policy remain the same. Refunds are calculated based on the full course fee, regardless of payment schedule. Any balance owed or refund due will be adjusted according to payments already made.
Are you interested in bringing MSC to your organization?
Yes — private courses and workshops for organizations are available. If you're interested in bringing MSC or a custom self-compassion or mindfulness program to your team, hospital, or community, reach out at msc@compassionatemind.com to start the conversation.
Also offered individually
Interested in self-compassion
in a one-on-one setting?
The principles and practices of MSC are also woven into individual therapy. If you're curious about exploring self-compassion in a more personal context, reach out to talk about therapy.
Learn more about Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) or MBSR.