Mindful Self-Compassion
An 8-Week Online Course in Emotional Resilience & Inner Kindness
A journey for those ready to soften self-criticism and re-connect with a steadier, warmer inner voice.
*Continuing Education Credits Available (see FAQ)*
(2 hours each)
+ half-day retreat
No class March 1
What Is Mindful Self-Compassion?
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an evidence-based program that teaches emotional resilience through the combined skills of mindfulness and self-kindness. Developed by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer, MSC helps us meet difficulty with greater understanding, warmth, and steadiness.
Mindfulness allows us to stay present with what’s happening in the moment. Self-compassion helps us respond with the same care we’d offer to someone we love.
Together, these practices support us in:
softening self-criticism
navigating challenging emotions
increasing clarity and ease
strengthening inner resources
feeling more connected to ourselves and others
Research shows that self-compassion increases happiness, emotional well-being, and motivation — while reducing anxiety, depression, shame, and burnout. It also helps us accept our imperfections, relate more gently to our struggles, and stay open even in the face of stress.
MSC offers a powerful shift from fighting our inner experience to befriending ourselves.
If you’re longing for more ease inside, this is a place to begin.
Meet your teachers
Morgan Healey
Researcher • Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher
Morgan Healey (she/her) is a Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher and the Lab Manager of the Neurospirituality Lab based out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She is currently leading a brain-mapping project investigating the neural circuit underlying self-transcendence.
Morgan brings this scientific grounding directly into her teaching, weaving together contemplative practice, psychological insight, and emerging neuroscience. Her approach is gentle, trauma-sensitive, and deeply relational. She holds a steady balance between the rigor of research and the tenderness of lived experience, helping people understand not only how self-compassion works, but why it helps us heal.
Çağla (“Chala”) Güneş
Psychotherapist • Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher
Çağla Güneş is a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher and psychotherapist based in Barcelona, Spain. She integrates research-supported mindfulness and compassion practices with a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive lens.
Her work focuses on helping individuals develop practical tools for regulating stress, navigating difficult emotions, and building sustainable self-kindness. She is committed to creating welcoming, inclusive learning spaces grounded in curiosity, equity, and nervous-system awareness.
Both Morgan and Çağla became teachers through the Self-Compassion Academy with Dr. Chris Germer and Mila de Koning.
What you'll learn
Over 8 weeks, you'll explore practices that help you meet difficulty with more ease, soften self-criticism, and build a kinder relationship with yourself and others.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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No. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an educational program, not psychotherapy. We’ll be learning and practicing evidence-based skills together in a group setting, but we won’t be processing personal history in the same way that you might with a therapist. Many people find that MSC complements their individual therapy beautifully, but it is not a replacement for mental health treatment.
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This course supports people who:
experience self-criticism or perfectionism
feel overwhelmed, stressed, or emotionally stretched thin
want to reconnect with their bodies and inner wisdom
crave a gentler way of relating to themselves
are curious about mindfulness, compassion, or contemplative practice
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Body-sensitive — practices paced with your nervous system in mind
Trauma-aware — participation always optional, sharing never required
Science-informed — grounded in empirical research
Gentle — emphasis on safety, spaciousness, and kindness
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No prior experience is needed.
All practices are guided, optional, and offered with plenty of support. You’re welcome whether you’re completely new to mindfulness or have been practicing for years and want a more structured way to bring compassion into your inner life. -
The course includes:
Eight live sessions (about 2 hours each)
One online half-day retreat
Optional home practices between sessions (often 10–20 minutes a day)
Everything is offered as an invitation — you’re encouraged to engage at a level that feels supportive and sustainable for you.
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Life happens. If you need to miss a session, you are still very welcome in the course. We’ll offer brief guidance to help you stay connected to the material between meetings—such as suggested practices or reflections you can explore on your own.
Because MSC is a group-based, experiential program, each session builds on the one before it. If you anticipate needing to miss more than two sessions, it may be worth considering whether this is the right time to enroll so you can receive the full benefit of the course and feel supported throughout the journey.
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Yes. We believe these practices should be accessible, and we offer a limited number of scholarship spots each cycle. If cost is a barrier, you’re welcome to indicate this on your screening form. I’ll be in touch about available options and next steps.
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It’s completely normal to feel uncertain. Many people join MSC because they sense they could benefit from more self-kindness, even if they’re not sure what that will look like. If you’re open to guided practices, willing to explore your inner experience with gentleness, and curious about what it might feel like to treat yourself with more compassion, you’re likely in the right place.
If you’d like more clarity, you’re welcome to note this on your screening form — We’re happy to help you think it through. Additionally, please feel free to reach out via email at morgan@neurospirituality.io with any questions
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Wonderful! Here’s how the enrollment process works:
1. Begin with the screening form
Click the button at the top of this page to complete a brief screening.
This helps ensure that the course is a supportive fit for you right now and gives us a sense of how to best support your learning and wellbeing throughout the program.2. We’ll personally review your responses
Once you submit the form, we’ll read it carefully.
If everything looks aligned with the course, we’ll reach out with next steps.
If we have any questions or want to better understand how to support you, we may contact you for a quick follow-up.3. Receive your confirmation email
If the course is a good fit, you’ll receive a confirmation email with:
your spot in the course
session dates and Zoom link
what to expect in Week 1
optional pre-course reflections
4. Make your payment
You’ll instructions on how to complete your payment
5. You’re officially enrolled!
Once you’re confirmed, you’ll receive a welcome packet with everything you need before our first session.
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This course is approved for 12.0 Social Work CE Credits through the NASW-MA Chapter CE Approval Program.
Authorization #: D 10651Full attendance required; no partial credit.
Please let us know if you are interested in your application!