Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) have become well established evidenced-based complementary treatment modalities for psychological distress including depression and anxiety (Goyal et al, 2014), disturbed eating behaviors (Mason et al, 2017), addictions (Witkiewitz et al, 2013), and caregiver burnout (Krasner, 2009). MBPs are typically structured 8-week programs delivered by trained/certified teachers to heterogenous or homogeneous populations.
Research has shown that one common outcome from participation in MBPs is an increase in self-compassion, which is linked to psychological well-being (MacBeth & Gumley, 2012).
Compassion is an important element in psychotherapy. The cultivation of self-compassion may help psychotherapists adopt a compassionate approach in the course of psychotherapeutic interventions, as well as improve patient care and promote job satisfaction (Scarlet, Altmeyer, Knier & Harpin, 2017).
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a structured, manualized (Germer & Neff, 2019) 8-Week MBP that combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to enhance emotional resilience. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff, PhD and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, PhD, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to open to the present moment, feel connected to self and others and respond with compassion.
By participating in the personal practice (PP) model, this opportunity for self-experiential learning may be helpful for therapists both at the personal and professional development levels. Research has shown that mental health professionals who participate in this structured, manualized self-compassion training can increase self-compassion and psychological well-being (Yela et al, 2019), traits that are important in being an effective psychotherapist, and reduce caregiver burnout (Delaney, 2018 & Eriksson et al, 2018). Further, therapists can share the practices learned in this program with clients to enhance their emotional resilience.
Bibliography
Delaney, M. C. (2018). Caring for the Caregivers: Evaluation of the effect of an eight-week pilot mindful self-compassion (MSC) training program on Nurses’ compassion fatigue and resilience.
PLoS ONE 13 (11): 0207261. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207261.
Eriksson, T., Germundsjo, L., Astrom, E. & Ronnlund, M. (2018). Mindful Self- Compassion Training Reduces Stress and Burnout Symptoms Among Practicing Psychologists: A randomized controlled trial of a brief web-based intervention.
Frontiers in Psychology, 9:2340. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02340.
Finlay-Jones, A., Kane, R., & rees, C. (2017). Self-compassion online: a pilot study of an internet-based self-compassion program for psychology trainees. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73, 1-20, doi: 10.1002/jclp/22375.
Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045.
Germer, C. K., & Neff, K. D. (2019). Teaching the mindful self-compassion program: A guide for professionals.
New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E., Gould, N., Rowland-Seymour, A., Sharma, R., Berger, Z., Sleicher, D., Maron, D., Shihab, H., Ranasinghe, P., Linn, S., Saha, S., Bass, E., Haythornwaite, J. (2014). Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well- Being: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine. doi 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018
Krasner, M.S., Epstein, R. M., Suchman, A. L., & Chapman, B (2009). Association of an educational program in mindful communication with burnout, empathy, and attitudes among primary care physicians. Jama 302 (12), 1284-1293
MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32, 545-552.
Neff, K., D., & Germer, C. K. (2018). The mindful self-compassion workbook: A proven way to accept yourself, build inner strength, and thrive. New York, NY: Ghe Guildford Press.
Mason, A., E., Jhaveri, K., Cohn, M., & Brewer, J. A. (2017). Testing a Mobile Mindful Eating intervention targeting craving-related eating: feasibility and proof of concept. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, DOI 10.1007/s10865-017-9884-5
Scarlet, J., Altmeyer, N., Knier, S., & Harpin, R. E. (2017). The effects of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) on health‐care workers. Clinical Psychologist, 21(2), 116– 124. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12130
Singer, T., & Klimecki, O. M. (2014). Empathy and compassion. Current Biology, 24(18), 875-878.
Witkiewitz, K., Lustyk, M. K., & Bowen, S. (2013). Re-training the Addicted Brain: A review of hypothesized Neurobiological Mechanisms of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention. Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 27 (2), 351-365.
Yela, J. R., Gomez-Martinez, M. A., Crego, A., & Jiminez, L (2019). Effects of the Mindful Self-Compassion programme on clinical and Health psychology trainees’ well- being: a pilot study. Clinical Psychologist, doi: 10.1111/cp.12204.
Zessin, U., Dickhauser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self- compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well- Being, 7(3), 340-364.
Research has shown that one common outcome from participation in MBPs is an increase in self-compassion, which is linked to psychological well-being (MacBeth & Gumley, 2012).
Compassion is an important element in psychotherapy. The cultivation of self-compassion may help psychotherapists adopt a compassionate approach in the course of psychotherapeutic interventions, as well as improve patient care and promote job satisfaction (Scarlet, Altmeyer, Knier & Harpin, 2017).
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a structured, manualized (Germer & Neff, 2019) 8-Week MBP that combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to enhance emotional resilience. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff, PhD and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, PhD, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to open to the present moment, feel connected to self and others and respond with compassion.
By participating in the personal practice (PP) model, this opportunity for self-experiential learning may be helpful for therapists both at the personal and professional development levels. Research has shown that mental health professionals who participate in this structured, manualized self-compassion training can increase self-compassion and psychological well-being (Yela et al, 2019), traits that are important in being an effective psychotherapist, and reduce caregiver burnout (Delaney, 2018 & Eriksson et al, 2018). Further, therapists can share the practices learned in this program with clients to enhance their emotional resilience.
Bibliography
Delaney, M. C. (2018). Caring for the Caregivers: Evaluation of the effect of an eight-week pilot mindful self-compassion (MSC) training program on Nurses’ compassion fatigue and resilience.
PLoS ONE 13 (11): 0207261. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207261.
Eriksson, T., Germundsjo, L., Astrom, E. & Ronnlund, M. (2018). Mindful Self- Compassion Training Reduces Stress and Burnout Symptoms Among Practicing Psychologists: A randomized controlled trial of a brief web-based intervention.
Frontiers in Psychology, 9:2340. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02340.
Finlay-Jones, A., Kane, R., & rees, C. (2017). Self-compassion online: a pilot study of an internet-based self-compassion program for psychology trainees. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73, 1-20, doi: 10.1002/jclp/22375.
Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(5), 1045.
Germer, C. K., & Neff, K. D. (2019). Teaching the mindful self-compassion program: A guide for professionals.
New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E., Gould, N., Rowland-Seymour, A., Sharma, R., Berger, Z., Sleicher, D., Maron, D., Shihab, H., Ranasinghe, P., Linn, S., Saha, S., Bass, E., Haythornwaite, J. (2014). Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well- Being: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine. doi 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018
Krasner, M.S., Epstein, R. M., Suchman, A. L., & Chapman, B (2009). Association of an educational program in mindful communication with burnout, empathy, and attitudes among primary care physicians. Jama 302 (12), 1284-1293
MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32, 545-552.
Neff, K., D., & Germer, C. K. (2018). The mindful self-compassion workbook: A proven way to accept yourself, build inner strength, and thrive. New York, NY: Ghe Guildford Press.
Mason, A., E., Jhaveri, K., Cohn, M., & Brewer, J. A. (2017). Testing a Mobile Mindful Eating intervention targeting craving-related eating: feasibility and proof of concept. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, DOI 10.1007/s10865-017-9884-5
Scarlet, J., Altmeyer, N., Knier, S., & Harpin, R. E. (2017). The effects of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) on health‐care workers. Clinical Psychologist, 21(2), 116– 124. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12130
Singer, T., & Klimecki, O. M. (2014). Empathy and compassion. Current Biology, 24(18), 875-878.
Witkiewitz, K., Lustyk, M. K., & Bowen, S. (2013). Re-training the Addicted Brain: A review of hypothesized Neurobiological Mechanisms of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention. Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 27 (2), 351-365.
Yela, J. R., Gomez-Martinez, M. A., Crego, A., & Jiminez, L (2019). Effects of the Mindful Self-Compassion programme on clinical and Health psychology trainees’ well- being: a pilot study. Clinical Psychologist, doi: 10.1111/cp.12204.
Zessin, U., Dickhauser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self- compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well- Being, 7(3), 340-364.