8 Week Mindful Self-Compassion Program

In April 2017, The Contemplary is proud to be offering the community an 8-week program in cultivating Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) run by Kathleen Cator.

Developed by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, MSC enables participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding. In particular, MSC encourages participants to foster kindness for themselves as well as a sense of common humanity through the techniques of mindfulness meditation.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone. It is a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Increasingly, research is demonstrating that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, reduced anxiety and depression, maintenance of healthy habits, and improvements in personal relationships. No previous experience with self-compassion or other meditation practices is required.

Each week of the course is devoted to a different aspect of self-compassion. This course structure is as follows:

Session 1: The science of Self-Compassion
Session 2: Practicing Mindfulness
Session 3: Practicing Loving Kindness
Session 4: Making peace with the inner critic
Session 5: Exploring strengths and values
Session 6: Exploring, managing & befriending difficult emotions
Session 7: Relationships and self-care
Session 8: Practicing gratitude, appreciation, and savouring

Where

All sessions will take place at the Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067

When

The MSC program comprises of 8 evening sessions from 6.30-9.30 pm, from the 20^th April to the 8^th of June.
In addition, there is one half-day session from 1-5 pm on the 21^st of May.

How Much

The cost of the program is $695.
Medicare rebates available if you have a Mental Health Care Plan

Bursaries

Anyone who wishes to attend but is unable to pay the full fee is encouraged to apply for a bursary by writing to charles@thecontemplary.org, explaining their financial situation. Please note that the availability of bursaries is dependent on donations and the number of full-fee enrolments.

Kathleen Cator

Kathleen brings warmth, care and a sense of humour to her work as a Psychologist, Teacher and Facilitator. A former nurse, and mother of three children Kathleen Cator has over 20 years of experience as a health professional and family caregiver. Kathleen holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology and is Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher. Kathleen is one our faculty teachers at The Contemplary. She also works in her private practice Metta Health & Psychology, which provides psychotherapy and training for individuals, groups and organisations. Kathleen’s interest and expertise is in mindful-compassion approaches, which include Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Mindful Self-Compassion and Compassion Focused Therapy. Kathleen completed her MSC teacher training with Chris Germer and Kristin Neff in the USA in 2014. Over the last couple of years, she has been delivering the MSC program in various settings, to the public, healthcare and business organisations, and Swinburne University. Kathleen acknowledges that Chris Germer has been one of her most important teachers. The logo for her own practice, with its two wings, (the wing of wisdom and the wing of compassion) was inspired by Chris’s book Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy.