What would happen if, in moments of shame, you could care for yourself instead of going small, attacking yourself, or shutting down?
We are excited to invite you to Self-Compassion for Shame: Returning Home to Yourself, a groundbreaking 8-week program developed by Dr. Chris Germer, Natalie Bell, and the SC-Shame development team. In this course, we take a unique, non-pathological look at shame through the lens of mindful self-compassion—and learn why self-compassion is the antidote to shame.
Who Should Participate
Prerequisites: This course is suitable for everyone who has completed either the 8-Week MSC, the 5-Day MSC Intensive, or the Short Course in MSC-along with a personal self-compassion practice of 1 year or more. You should be able to recognize that shame may be limiting your full potential—and want new resources to be able to work with it in a healthy balanced way.
SC-Shame is a resource-building program (like MSC), not psychotherapy. Because we’ll be touching shame with self-compassion, challenging emotions may arise. Our teaching team is committed to co-creating a safe and rewarding learning environment together with participants.
“Self-Compassion allows us to see through shame—to see our inherent worth and value.”
What You’ll Learn
You will build practical resources to meet shame with greater acceptance and authenticity so you can stay connected, think in a balanced way, and make wise, healthy choices. The course weaves together talks, experiential exercises, meditation, and group discussion, alongside theory and research on shame and self-compassion. Special topics include:
- Mindfulness of shame
- Origins of shame
- Self-criticism
- Body shame
- Self-forgiveness
- Hidden parts
- Social justice
“Shame makes us want to go small, go silent, or go away. Self-Compassion shows us how to be strong and have a voice.”
Why This Course
Prior participants of the SC-Shame 8-week course reported:
- 96% would recommend the course
- 96% said their experience of shame changed as a result of the course
- 89% would consider taking the course again
- 85% had better mental and emotional wellbeing after the course
Program Structure
- 8 weeks, 28 hours total (20 hours class time plus 8 hours optional practice group)
- Weekly classes: 2.5 hours each
- Optional practice group: 1 hour weekly, facilitated by SC-Shame teachers
- Class size: maximum 30 participants
Free Orientation Session
Join us for a free orientation session as a preview of the upcoming 8-week course starting in April 2026. Register here.
Certificate of Completion
To be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, you must attend at least 6 of the 8 weekly sessions. After completing the end-of-program survey, please email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu to request your certificate.
CE Certification
CE certification requires an additional $50 fee for CE credits. You must attend all sessions in order to receive the CE certificate.
Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association (APA) and Board of Registered Nursing (BRN).
Psychologists
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. 20.0 CE credit.
California Licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs
This activity is an approved continuing education program by the American Psychological Association. Credit hours may be applied to your license renewal through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 20.0 CE credit.
Nurses
UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to sponsor continuing education. Provider Number CEP16351. 24.0 contact hours.
A refund (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 7 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 6 days of the event start date.
Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.
In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to in-person programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.
Refunds are processed using the same method as the original payment (unless past 180 days).