Mindful Self-Compassion for Counselors and Mental Health Professionals

Instructed by Sydney Spears and Tracy Ochester

This course meets September 5, 2023 - November 13, 2023 (with a 3-hour online retreat from 3:30-6:30pm PT on Monday, October 16).

Hours: 3:30 - 5:30 pm PT Click here to view the Time Conversion Chart


This program is offered in response to the demand for accessibility for counselors and mental health professionals, not only meet the prerequisite requirement for Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy (SCIP), but also provide necessary tools to enhance an understanding of the role of self-compassion in the practice of counseling and psychotherapy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion
  • Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
  • Assess and manage difficult situations and emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance
  • Develop and apply self-compassion practices to respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness
  • Transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation
  • Utilize the art of savoring and self-appreciation to overcome negative attention bias
  • Apply core mindfulness and self-compassion practices into daily life
  • Demonstrate simple self-compassion practices to patients, students, or clients


Continuing Education for Participants in the US

Psychologists: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 23.0 CE credit. California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 23.0 CE credit may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. For those licensed outside California, please check with your local licensing board to determine if CE credit is accepted. Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 27.5 CE credit. 

Fees for CE credit: $75  *Must attend all classes live to receive credits.

If you would like to receive CEs for enrolling in this MSC class, please add from the checkout page.

Access to Materials and Session Recordings

After you complete each course or workshop, you'll have access to the content for 90 days if you want to review it at your convenience.

Please note that we will record each live session, and the recordings will be available within 48 hours in the respective lesson of the course.


Who Should Attend

This course is an adaptation of our flagship program LOMSC. This course is most suitable for mental health and healthcare professionals, school counselors and educators at all levels.


Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available. You can apply for a scholarship using the Scholarship Application.  Places will be offered in  the order application forms are received. Places are confirmed once payment is received. (Please note that scholarships are based on personal financial need, separate from being financially over-extended or over-committed.)


Refunds

For any refund requests, questions regarding the course or the registration process, please fill out the refund form here.

MSC for Mental Health Professionals

  • $595.00

    $595.00MSC for Counselors with Sydney Spears and Tracy Ochester, starting September 5th

    Register Now

Meet Your Teacher

Sydney Spears

CMSC Director of DEIB and MSC Certified Teacher

Sydney Spears, Ph.D., LCSW is a certified Mindful-Self Compassion teacher and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for the Center of Mindful Self-Compassion. She also works part-time at the University of Kansas-School of Social Welfare specializing in teaching diversity, anti-oppression, social justice and clinical social work courses. Sydney has deep passion for advancing social equity for racialized people and all other underserved populations experiencing systemic injustices. Additionally, Sydney is highly committed to providing and integrating anti-oppressive and trauma-sensitive practices within her psychotherapy practice as a licensed clinical social worker. Her counseling service specializes in working with survivors of chronic stress and trauma generated from family relationships and sociocultural trauma.

Tracy Ochester

MSC Trained Teacher and Coordinator/Co-founder of Midwest Alliance of Mindfulness

Tracy Ochester (she/her), PsyD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Kansas City, Certified Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Teacher and UCSD MBPTI approved Mentor, a Trained Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention Teacher, and a Registered Yoga Teacher. She also serves as the Heart-Mind Coordinator for the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness, a nonsectarian organization supporting the practice of mindfulness in the heartland.

FAQ

  • What is the refund policy?

    Please refer to our standard policy on refunds here: https://centerformsc.org/cmsc-policies/

  • What are the parameters of participation?

    Our programs are designed to teach participants the tools needed to develop and cultivate a mindfulness and self-compassion practice. It is not a substitute for mental health care, personal therapy or medical treatment. Personal safety and emotional wellbeing are the foundation of self-compassion training and you are primarily responsible for your own safety. Teachers and facilitators are not expected or able to provide medical and/or psychological care. Course experiences may bring up challenging memories or feelings. If you have a history with a serious mental health condition or other concerns you think may impact your ability to take this course, please contact CMSC or your healthcare professional to determine if this course is right for you. Your personal contact information may be used in the event the teacher or facilitator reasonably determines a need to call emergency services on your behalf.

  • What are the terms of participant removal?

    Participation is at the discretion of the teachers and facilitators at all times. If, in the opinion of the teachers and facilitators, you are unable to continue to participate productively in the course, you may be asked to discontinue. Decisions of removal are to ensure CMSC provides the safest space possible for our participants and teachers. Please see our refund policy regarding necessary participant removal.