Mindful Self-Compassion 
in support of
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

 

As research continues to uncover the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, interest in exploring their benefits continues to grow. At the same time, evidence suggests that oxytocin, the primary neurochemical associated with self-compassion, is linked to inducing  “opening” of the heart and mind across  various psychedelic medicines.  This evidence-based course, based on the work of Kristin Neff and Chris Germer, is designed to support the exploration of the synergy between these two powerful  avenues to healing.

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Abundant scientific research confirms a core teaching of the great wisdom traditions: cultivating compassion is essential to our well-being.  Self-compassion is proven to facilitate the reduction of depression, stress, and anxiety brought about through psychedelic experiences (Fauvel, B., et al., 2021).  Positive states, such as happiness, life satisfaction, gratitude, hope and curiosity are also supported through self-compassion training.

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This training is offered to support psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), and is appropriate for:

• Therapists, guides, sitters who want to:

-deepen their own SC practice as they sit with clients in PAT or support clients who are working with psychedelics outside of therapy

-introduce exercises and practices to clients to support & potentiate their experience

• Clients, journeyers engaged in PAT, as well as individuals who are seeking experiences outside of the mental health profession/ therapeutic context to:

-cultivate the skills of self-compassion to enhance the potential of  psychedelic exploration.

 

The course will include eight, 2-1/2-hour sessions, and one 3-hour retreat.   Experiential breathwork “journeys” will be woven in throughout the course that tap directly into how MSC practices can best support elements of PAT.  Sessions will offer an experiential journey of somatic learning, growth and embodied understanding of compassion to enhance set and setting, as well as the preparation and integration phases of PAT. 

 

Those who complete the course will be eligible to apply for an in-person experiential Ketamine-Assisted Compassion Training, February 21-25th, 2025, in Portland, Oregon (limited to 24 participants, priced separately). 

 

This course also meets the requirements for MSC teacher training. ​Graduates of this course will also have access to ongoing self-compassion practice support through the MSC Circles of Practice Community, a weekly, donation-based, online practice group offered by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.

 

This course is offered at the following rates:

Benefactor: $700 (pay it forward)

Sustainer: $550

Scholarship: $400 (no application necessary)

*Continuing  Education Credits are an additional $75 (through The Institute for Meditation & Psychotherapy).  Please inquire to see if you are eligible.

Course Dates:  Sundays 3:30-5:45 EST; Jan 5, 12, 19, 26; Feb 2, 9, 16; March 2.

Retreat: Feb 15th, 11am - 2pm EST 

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About the Teachers

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Lisa Kring LCSW (MSW- USC), works in Los Angeles in private clinical practice, as a senior mindfulness teacher at InsightLA, and as a KAP integration therapist.  She became a certified teacher of the Mindful Self-Compassion course under the guidance of founders Chris Germer and Kristin Neff in 2015.  She is a committed practitioner of mindfulness meditation in the Theravada tradition for over 20 years, and is a graduate of the Dedicated Practitioner Program and the Advanced Practitioner Program through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and received teacher lineage transmission/authorization from Jack Kornfield in 2017.  Lisa is trained in Hakomi Somatic Mindfulness Psychotherapy and is a certified death doula.  For the past 15 years has also been facilitating mindfulness groups and classes with people touched by cancer at the SIMMS/MANN Center for Integrative Oncology at UCLA and the Benjamin Center Cancer Support Community in Santa Monica. Lisa works as a integration therapist with Mystic Health Integrative Medicine Center in Los Angeles, and is a graduate of the Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research Certification Program through the California Institute for Integral Studies, and is trained in Ketamine Assisted Therapy through the Polaris Insight Center.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and recognizes her two young adult children as her deepest teachers in life.

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Staci Berman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher. Her work as a therapist spans over a decade with experience working in treatment centers and private practice. She provides a strong background of working with those with traumatic histories and who have struggled with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, among other challenges. As a Certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher, Staci has taught courses in the Chicagoland area and online and has supported MSC participants on 5-day retreats in the US and Canada. She has also brought self-compassion to healthcare communities as a Certified SCHC teacher, and served as a consultation group facilitator for the Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy Program (SCiP). Staci’s interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies comes from her own experiences with and understanding of the healing and potential properties of psychedelics. Staci received her certification in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies, is 100-hour MDMA-assisted therapy certified, and has additional ketamine-assisted psychotherapy training from Polaris Insight Training Center. She is passionate about combining her interests in MSC and psychedelics and offers a warm, compassionate, and humorous approach to her work. Staci currently lives in San Diego with her husband and two cats.

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Susie Fairchild has a private psychotherapy practice in the the Boston area.  She sits  on the board and faculty of The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy (www.meditationandpsychotherapy.org).  She is also certified as a Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher through the UCSD Center for Mindfulness.  She teaches MSC at The Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at Cambridge Health Alliance  (https://www.chacmc.org/),  as well as MSC Core Skills and an intensive version of the MSC curriculum at Kripalu Center for Yoga in Lenox, MA.  In addition to MSC, Susie completed Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Teacher Training, Compassion Cultivation Training, Somatic Self-Compassion Training,  as well as a variety of other mindfulness-based training.  She offers ketamine-assisted therapy for individuals & small groups, and trained with Polaris, Fluence and The Ketamine Training Center.  She has practiced meditation for many years, primarily in the Insight tradition, and is committed to ongoing Dharma study and retreat practice.  For additional information about Susie, please go to the Home Page of this site.