8-Week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)

Overview

With mindful self-compassion, we’re better able to recognize when we’re under stress and face what’s happening in our lives (mindfulness) and to take a kinder and more sustainable approach to life’s challenges. Self-compassion gives emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to recover more quickly from bruised egos to admit our shortcomings, forgive ourselves, and respond to ourselves and others with care and respect. After all, making mistakes is part of being human. Self-compassion also provides the support and inspiration required to make necessary changes in our lives and reach our full potential.

Research has shown that self-compassion greatly enhances emotional well-being. It boosts happiness, reduces anxiety and depression, and can even help you stick to your diet and exercise routine. And it’s easier than you think. Most of us feel compassion when a close friend is struggling. What would it be like to receive the same caring attention whenever you needed it most? All that’s required is shift in the direction of our attention—recognizing that as a human being, you, too, are a worthy recipient of compassion.

At the completion of this program, participants should be able to:

  • describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion
  • motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
  • relate to difficult emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance
  • respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness
  • begin to transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation
  • practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation
  • integrate core mindfulness and self-compassion exercises into daily life
  • teach simple self-compassion practices to patients, students, or clients

Please Note: Those who have completed a UC San Diego Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program can receive a $50 discount on the 8-Day MSC Program or the 5-Day MSC Intensive Training Program. (Not applicable for Introduction to MSC Workshop, SC-MSC, or 2-Day MSC Core Skills Workshop.) Please email us (mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu) before you register to receive your discount code.

Continuing Education

CE Credits: this certificate is an additional $50 fee for CE credits. You must attend ALL sessions and the Half-Day Session in order to receive the 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. 24.0 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. 24.0 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. 28.5 contact hours.

Cancellation Policy

A refund of your registration payment (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for participants who withdraw prior to the start of the 1st class by emailing mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu. 

If you decide to cancel after the 1st session and before the 2nd session starts, 50% of your registration payment will be refunded. No refunds will be made after the 2nd session starts. 

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 the In-Person Programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses. 

The refunds are processed in the same method as the payments were submitted (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mindfulness
Price
$595
Pricing Details
EARLY BIRD RATE: $545 (up to 30 days before the start date)

UC San Diego Students/Employees may take the course for $545 ($495 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
With mindful self-compassion, we’re better able to recognize when we’re under stress and face what’s happening in our lives (mindfulness) and to take a kinder and more sustainable approach to life’s challenges.
Use phased schedule
Off
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

8-Week Nature Awareness: Connecting with Yourself, Others, and the Planet

Overview

Make an Inner Difference.

In partnership with UC Irvine - Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute (SSIHI), this highly interactive 8-week course will support you to:

• Understand the current state of our planet and the role you want to play in making a difference.

• See the world through new eyes and feel connected to yourself, others, and the planet.

• Learn evidence-informed, mindfulness and self-compassion practices that lead to a shift in awareness.

• Work skillfully with feelings of overwhelm, climate anxiety, and worrisome thoughts.

• Strengthen emotional balance, personal resilience and ecological awareness.

• Listen to nature’s wisdom and what she has to teach us through experiential nature walks on your own time.

• Collaborate with like-minded people and work on a purposeful "handprint" project.

This 8-module mindfulness-based program helps participants navigate climate anxiety and transform it into meaningful, sustained action. Experience the power of inner resilience, connection, and shared purpose in facing today's ecological and social challenges.

Human well-being is inseparable from the integrity of Earth's natural systems. This course supports the development of emotional balance, personal resilience, and ecological awareness, and helps you to remember your deep interconnectedness with nature. Experiential sessions with mindfulness and self-compassion practices including interpersonal meditation will equip you with practical tools for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and collaboration. Themed nature walks between sessions will deepen your sense of embodied rationality within systems. You will experience the support of the group's wisdom and design a personal, purposeful initiative towards more ecological responsibility and connection with self and others. 

Please feel free to watch the Nature Awareness Information Session HERE.

Why might I take this course?

Shift to a Greener Mindset.

• The intention of this course is to offer a transformational process for a mindset shift leading to long-term and systemic thinking and acting, fostering a transition towards more green and fair societies.

• This course is open to anyone who wants to strengthen their relationship with nature, is drawn to meeting like-minded people, worries about the state of our planet, and wants to turn feelings of helplessness into a sense of agency and meaningful action. 

Cancellation Policy

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@health.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).

Contact Email
mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Behavior Change
Compassion
Mental Health
Mindfulness
Resilience
Stress Management
Price
$395
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
An 8-module mindfulness-based program that helps participants transform feelings of overwhelm and anxiety about the state of our planet into meaningful action. Participants will strengthen their connection with the natural world, develop inner resilience, and experience the power of purpose and collaboration in facing today’s ecological and social challenges.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 AM PT
https://na.eventscloud.com/natureawarenessoct2026
Online
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

8-Week Course in Mindful Self-Compassion

Overview

How do you typically react to difficulties in life—work stress, feeling rejected, physical problems, or financial hardship? Most of us instinctively fight negative experiences and find fault in ourselves when things go wrong. This tendency adds stress and self-criticism that can worsen anxiety, depression, and other challenges.

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teaches a different approach—learning to calm and support yourself when you’re struggling, much like you would for a close friend. Self-compassion is a skill that can be learned by anyone and is a courageous mental attitude that helps reduce self-judgment and emotional reactivity.

With mindful self-compassion, participants learn to recognize stress, respond with kindness, and build emotional resilience. Research shows that self-compassion can increase happiness, reduce anxiety and depression, and support healthy behavior change.

The 8-week MSC program consists of weekly sessions in a group format, along with guided practices and opportunities to integrate mindfulness and self-compassion into daily life.

Continuing Education

Certificate of Completion requires attendance at least 6 of 8 sessions and the half-day session.

CE credits are available for an additional $50 fee. Full attendance is required.

Psychologists: 24.0 CE credits through the American Psychological Association.

California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: 24.0 CE credits.

Nurses: 28.5 contact hours through the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Page Sections
On
Objectives

Describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion

braind
Understand Self-Compassion

Relate to difficult emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance

heart
Emotional Resilience

Respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness

sparkles
Self-Kindness

Motivate yourself with encouragement rather than self-criticism

trending-up
Motivation Through Support

Begin to transform difficult relationships through self-validation

users
Relationships & Connection

Integrate mindfulness and self-compassion practices into daily life

activity
Daily Practice Integration
Cancellation Policy

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).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mental Health
Mindfulness
Resilience
Stress Management
Price
$595
Pricing Details
$595 ($545 if paid in full 30 days in advance)

UC San Diego Employees: $545 ($495 if paid in full 30 days in advance)

Those who have completed a UC San Diego Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program can receive a $50 discount. Email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu before registering to receive a discount code.
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
Program Summary
An 8-week program that teaches mindful self-compassion skills to improve emotional resilience, reduce self-criticism, and support well-being.
Use phased schedule
Off
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

6-Week Eco-Awareness Training for MBSR/MBCT Teachers

Overview

This training brings together MBSR/MBCT teachers to contemplate and engage in practice around their wishes for wellbeing and healing for our planet Earth.

The six sessions of the training cover all 10 MBSR/MBCT class sessions. The sessions are divided approximately in half: the first half is dedicated to Earth Awareness practice and time for sharing personal reflections and experiences; the second half allows time for considering and sharing ways of inviting Earth Awareness into the curriculum and MBSR/MBCT classroom. Teachers can share both their established ways and their discoveries around new possibilities for bringing Earth Awareness into their teaching. Together, we can engage in the challenge and the benefit of holding the Earth as a fully worthy recipient in the circle of MBSR/MBCT care, compassion and embodied action.

Teachers prepare for each meeting by engaging with practice and self-reflection prompts, reviewing selected materials, and reviewing the MBSR/MBCT curriculum for the sessions to be discussed. Teachers are encouraged to write and share between meetings and contribute to a collection of resources to support Earth Awareness. Each teacher will leave this training with a range of materials for continued inspiration.

Sessions include community building, Earth-based practice, reflection and sharing, curriculum review, and exploration of ways to bring Earth Awareness into MBSR/MBCT teaching.

This teacher development training is for MBSR and MBCT teachers. Some teaching experience is recommended.

Continuing Education

CE Credits require an additional $50 fee - paid for before the start date of the program. You must attend all sessions and the all-day session 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. 12.5 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. 12.5 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. 15.0 contact hours.

Page Sections
On
Objectives

Reflect on your relationship with the Earth’s polycrisis and climate emergency

leaf
Reflect on Earth Relationship

Share and engage in mindfulness practices that support awareness, compassion, and engagement for the Earth’s wellbeing

heart
Support Earth Wellbeing

Identify ways to incorporate Earth awareness into the MBSR/MBCT curriculum and classroom

layers
Integrate Earth Awareness

Prepare and guide brief Earth-informed mindfulness practices

activity
Guide Earth Practices

Discuss the challenges and possibilities of inviting the Earth into mindfulness teaching

compass
Explore Teaching Challenges

Connect with fellow teachers to share practices, resources, and support

users
Build Teaching Community
Cancellation Policy

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).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Integrative Medicine
Mindfulness
Professional Training
Resilience
Stress Management
Price
$400
Pricing Details
Limited $325 scholarships are available to new participants. Please email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu for more information.
Audience Type
Professional
Program Summary
A six-session online training for MBSR/MBCT teachers exploring how to integrate Earth awareness into mindfulness teaching and practice.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Fridays, 8:30 AM–10:30 AM PT
https://na.eventscloud.com/ecomay2026
Online
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

5-Day Mindful Self-Compassion Intensive

Overview

“For someone to develop genuine compassion towards others, first he or she must have a basis upon which to cultivate compassion, and that basis is the ability to connect to one’s own feelings and to care for one’s own welfare… Caring for others requires caring for oneself.“

– Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama –

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an intensive training retreat version of an empirically-supported 8-week program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the research of Kristin Neff and integrated with the clinical perspective of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult emotions with kindness and understanding.

The Three Core Components of Self-Compassion

  • Self-kindness: Opening our hearts to suffering so we can give ourselves what we need
  • Common humanity: Recognizing that we are not alone in our experiences
  • Mindfulness: Staying present and accepting our experience with greater ease

Together, these elements create a state of warm, connected presence during difficult moments in our lives.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who did not receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable being kind to themselves. It is a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm we inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-denial, or self-absorption.

Self-compassion builds emotional strength and resilience, helping us acknowledge our shortcomings, forgive ourselves, motivate ourselves with kindness, care for others, and fully engage with life.

Research & Benefits

A growing body of research demonstrates that self-compassion is associated with emotional well-being, reduced anxiety and depression, healthier lifestyle habits, and more satisfying personal relationships.

Program Founders

Christopher K. Germer, PhD is a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion-based treatment. He has been integrating meditation into psychotherapy since 1978. Dr. Germer is a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School and a founding member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He lectures internationally on mindfulness and self-compassion and is a co-editor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy, and author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion.

Kristin D. Neff, PhD is an Associate Professor in Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin. She was among the first to define and measure self-compassion in academic research and has published extensively on its psychological benefits. Dr. Neff is a co-developer of the empirically-supported 8-week MSC program and author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. She is also featured in The Horse Boy, a book and documentary about her family’s journey with autism.

Continuing Education

CE Credits require an additional $75 fee - paid for before the start date of the program. You must attend all sessions completely 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. 24.0 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. 24.0 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. 28.75 contact hours.

Page Sections
On

Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the theory and research supporting mindful self-compassion
  • Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
  • Assess and manage difficult situations and emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance
  • Develop and apply self-compassion practices to respond to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness
  • Transform difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation
  • Utilize the art of savoring and self-appreciation to overcome negative attention bias
  • Apply core mindfulness and self-compassion practices into daily life
Default
On

What to Expect

 

Program activities include meditation, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices.  The goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for exploring how we typically respond when difficult emotions arise and to provide tools for becoming a warm and supportive companion to ourselves. The emphasis of the program is on enhancing emotional resources and personal capacities. For more information on self-compassion, please see www.Self-Compassion.org and www.MindfulSelfCompassion.org

It is widely acknowledged within the field that the teaching of mindfulness and compassion arises out of the personal practice of them. Thus, training courses include substantial periods of personal practice of mindfulness meditation and compassion to help develop the personal and professional resource of these human qualities. An analogy might be that the swimming coach would have to be an excellent swimmer, or a violin teacher would actually be a skilled violinist. Therefore in the field of mindfulness and compassion, the teacher must have a well-developed and substantial experiential grounding in these practices, which is partially supported through meditative practice and exercises during the training.

Default
On

Program Schedule

DaySchedule
Monday
Arrival & Registration: 8:30–9:00 AM PT
Sessions: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, 2:00–5:00 PM
TuesdaySessions: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, 2:00–5:00 PM
Wednesday
Session: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Afternoon free for personal practice
ThursdaySessions: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, 2:00–5:00 PM
FridaySession: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Default
Cancellation Policy

A refund (minus your $100 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for cancellations submitted in writing up to 15 days prior to the event start date by emailing mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu. No refunds will be allowed within 14 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 the In-Person Programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

The refunds are processed in the same method as the payments were submitted (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mindfulness
Price
$895
Pricing Details
EARLY BIRD RATE: $845 (up to 30 days before the start date)

UC San Diego Students/Employees may take the course for $845 ($795 up to 30 days before the start date)

Registration fee does not include meals/snacks/drinks or the room and board charge. Participants must find lodging/meals on own. Please be aware that this venue does not have a refrigerator.
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
An intensive training retreat version of an empirically-supported 8-week program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
https://na.eventscloud.com/mscintensivejune2026
Marina Village Conference Center: 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109
In Person

Directions found here.

Free parking

Please do not make any travel arrangements until you receive a formal acceptance.

Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

6-Week Introduction to Mindfulness

Overview

Are you...

  • Interested in learning what mindfulness is and how it can benefit you?
  • Curious to learn how mindfulness can fit into your life?
  • Hesitant to commit to a longer program?
  • Eager to explore a variety of practices in a condensed format?
  • Wishing for a mindfulness refresher?

Then our Introduction to Mindfulness course may be right for you!

You may have heard about the benefits of mindfulness in reducing stress and increasing resilience. It has become a widely discussed topic and is being integrated into many settings, including healthcare, K–12 schools, workplaces, professional sports teams, governmental agencies, the military, and correctional systems. The benefits of bringing mindfulness into both work and daily life are increasingly recognized, with research supporting what many people already experience: being more present allows us to notice both the positive and the challenging as they arise. This awareness helps us appreciate what is going well and respond more intentionally to difficulty.

Start your mindfulness journey with us…

  • Be more present and aware in both work and home life
  • Reduce auto-pilot reactivity in stressful situations
  • Enhance attention and connection in communication
  • Offer yourself kindness and compassion in times of challenge
  • Find more happiness in everyday life

In six weekly 90-minute classes, a certified instructor will guide you through a variety of mindfulness practices and show how they can be integrated into daily life. Each session introduces new topics and techniques, including:

  • Sitting Meditation
  • Body Scan Meditation
  • Mindful Movement
  • Mindful Eating
  • Mindful Walking
  • Threat Reactivity & Stress Management
  • The Neuroscience of Mindfulness
  • Taming Digital Distractions
  • Mindful Communication
  • Mindful Self-Compassion

This program provides a strong foundation for participating in more comprehensive offerings such as the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC or SC-MSC) programs.

Page Sections
Off

Course Objectives 

After this program, participants will be able to:

  • Explain what mindfulness is and what benefits arise from the practice;
  • Utilize a wide range of mindfulness practices;
  • Describe how their thoughts and core beliefs dictate their stress reactivity, and how mindfulness facilitates self-management of that reactivity;
  • Explain where and why mindfulness is beneficial in the workplace;
  • Apply mindfulness practices into both work and life.
Default
Blue
Off

Continuing Education (CE)

  • Continuing education credits are awarded in the following categories: American Psychological Association and Board of Registered Nursing. They are available for an additional $15 fee and you must attend ALL sessions to receive the certificate.
  • 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. 6.0 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. 6.0 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. 7.0 contact hours.
Default
Off
Default
Cancellation Policy

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).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mindfulness
Resilience
Stress Management
Price
$375
Pricing Details
EARLY BIRD RATE: $350 (up to 30 days before the start date)

UC San Diego Students/Employees may take the course for $350 ($325 up to 30 days before the start date)
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
Explore the fundamentals of mindfulness in a flexible, six-week course designed to help you reduce stress, build resilience, and integrate practical awareness into your daily life—without the commitment of a longer program.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Tuesdays, 6-7:30PM PT
https://na.eventscloud.com/intromindaug2026
Online
Online
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

The Art of Parenting with Presence

Overview
How Can Mindfulness Help Kids?

Parenting is a journey filled with joy, but it also brings moments of real emotional challenge. We invite you and your child to join this first-of-its-kind online program, specifically designed to transform how you relate to one another. By integrating the core principles of mindfulness and self-compassion, this course provides the essential tools to navigate distress with grace and resilience.

What Is Mindfulness

Mindfulness teaches moment-to-moment non-judgemental awareness. It is simply learning to pay attention to our experience just as it is in each moment. Much of our stress occurs when we let our minds run on autopilot, which can lead to rumination and worry. Through simple practices, Mindfulness can improve emotional resilience and strengthen our capacity to respond skillfully to life's challenges. Essentially, Mindfulness empowers kids to live happier and healthier lives!

In this program, you and your child will explore ways to...
  • Build a Foundation: Create a lasting base of warmth, security, and trust.
  • Develop Resilience: Learn practical self-care skills for both parent and child.
  • Meet the Moment: Approach difficult emotions with newfound awareness, kindness and respect.
Schedule and Registration

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants per program. Classes with fewer than 10 registrants will be cancelled and provided a refund. Please be aware of this when making arrangements to attend this program.

Please note: The child must be between the ages of 8–12. If you have more than one child who wishes to participate, you must register them separately. One to two parents may attend with their child.

Cancellation Policy

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).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mindfulness
Resilience
Youth & Family
Price
$375
Pricing Details
6-Week Program Fee (based on parent(s) and 1 child-ages 8-12).

EARLY BIRD RATE: $350 (up to 30 days before the start date)

UC San Diego Students/Employees may take the course for $350 ($325 up to 30 days before the start date)
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
A 6-week online mindfulness and self-compassion journey for parents and children (ages 8–12) to build emotional awareness, resilience, and more skillful responses to stress together.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Sundays, 2–3:30 PM PT
https://na.eventscloud.com/artofparentingmay2026
Online

(no class on 5/24/26)

Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Mariana Ampudia

First Name
Mariana
Last Name
Ampudia
Institution Affiliation
UC San Diego
Headshot Image
Mariana Ampudia
Titles
Youth Program Teacher
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mindfulness
Professional Training
Stress Management
Youth & Family
Organizational Roles
Instructor
Short Bio

Mariana Ampudia is a certified mindfulness instructor for kids and teens with training through the UCSD Center for Mindfulness and experience teaching school-based mindfulness programs and supporting mindful and compassionate parenting workshops.

Bio

Mariana is a certified Mindfulness Instructor for kids and teens. She took a mentoring and certification training program at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness. She also completed an intensive teacher training in the Mindfulness in Schools Education Project (MiSP .b program), a program launched in the UK, having obtained a certification to teach this dynamic, classroom-based program to middle and high school students. She is currently working to become certified to teach the Making Friends with Yourself Program, which is a Self-Compassion curriculum for teens based on the ideas and research of Kristen Neff and Christopher Germer taught at the Center for Self-Compassion. Since 2015, she has been working with the Youth and Family Programs Division at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness.

At this time, Mariana provides support in Mindful and Compassionate Parenting Workshops and will start offering training on this to parents in Mexico. Mariana strongly believes in the power of Mindfulness. This has inspired her to concentrate her studies on helping children and teens develop self-regulation, resilience and social-emotional skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Her passion for teaching children and teens has inspired her to pursue further training in the Little Flower Yoga Program. This also motivated her to start a Stress Reduction Program where she applies her knowledge to teach in economically underdeveloped areas in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she has been teaching a multiage group of teens and pre-teens.

Mariana is a multicultural woman. She spent eight years living in Europe. This has helped her better understand how different societies work. Her native language is Spanish and she also speaks English, French and German. She spends her free time traveling and producing wine at her vineyards in Ensenada, Mexico with her husband.

Show in directories
On

Megan Prager

First Name
Megan
Last Name
Prager
Credentials (Display)
MA
Institution Affiliation
UC San Diego
Headshot Image
Megan Prager, MA
Titles
Compassion Programs Director, University Liaison, Certified MBSR Teacher, Certified MSC Teacher
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mindfulness
Professional Training
Stress Management
Organizational Roles
Instructor
Program Lead
Staff
Short Bio

Megan Prager, MA, is the Compassion Programs Director at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness and a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindful Self-Compassion. She develops and leads mindfulness and compassion-based programs for universities, healthcare systems, and organizations, with a focus on practical, evidence-based applications that support well-being and resilience.

Bio

Megan Prager, MA, serves as the Compassion Programs Director at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness and is the co-founder of Mindful Labs. She is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher, a certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher, and a certified Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) instructor. Megan is also an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University and a lecturer at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management.

In addition to teaching mindfulness-based programs, Megan specializes in designing and delivering mindfulness and compassion trainings for Fortune 500 companies as well as for educational, healthcare, and academic settings. She currently collaborates with universities to develop and teach mindfulness and compassion courses at the collegiate level. Across all of her work, Megan is driven by a clear mission: to empower individuals to cultivate compassionate awareness and recognize their capacity to shape their own well-being.

Show in directories
On

The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion

Overview

Join us for a FREE SC-MSC Information Session on Tuesday, June 9th from 6-6:45pm PT

REGISTER HERE

---------------------------------------------

The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (SC-MSC) is a 6-week adaptation of the empirically-supported 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program designed to begin the cultivation of the skills of self-compassion. SC-MSC was developed by Kristin Neff, PhD, the pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion and Christopher Germer, PhD, a leader in the integration of mindfulness, compassion and psychotherapy. 

Most of us feel compassion for our close friends when they are struggling. What would it be like to receive the same caring attention from yourself when you needed it most? All that’s required is a shift in attention—recognizing that as a human being, you, too, are a worthy recipient of compassion. Self-compassion involves the capacity to comfort and soothe ourselves, and to motivate ourselves with encouragement, when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. Self-compassion is learned in part by connecting with our innate compassion for others and including ourselves in that circle of compassion. The practice of self-compassion also helps to grow and sustain our compassion for others. 

The SC-MSC program draws on the skills of mindfulness and focuses on developing the resource of self-compassion to enhance our capacity for emotional wellbeing.  Burgeoning research shows that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, coping with life challenges, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and more satisfying personal relationships. It is an inner strength that enables us to be more fully human—more fully ourselves. 

Fortunately, self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those of us who did not learn these skills as children. 

This program is designed for members of the general public, based on the values of equity, diversity, inclusiveness and belonging. Meditation experience is not necessary to participate in SC-MSC. All are welcome!  

Program activities include short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices.  SC-MSC is an opportunity to explore how we typically respond when difficulties arise in our lives and to learn tools for becoming a warm and supportive companion to ourselves.

Objectives
  • Articulate the basic theoretical underpinnings and research findings related to self-compassion
  • Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
  • Develop the capacity to contend with challenges and difficulties through awareness of self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.
  • Apply core self-compassion practices into daily life
Continuing Education
Continuing Education Credits:

CE Credits require an additional $15 fee - paid for before the start date of the program. 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. 6.0 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. 6.0 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. 7.0 contact hours.

Cancellation Policy

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 the In-Person Programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

The refunds are processed in the same method as the payments were submitted (unless past 180 days).

Contact Email
mindfulness@ucsd.edu
Primary Center
CFM
Focus Areas
Compassion
Mental Health
Mindfulness
Professional Training
Stress Management
Price
$375
Pricing Details
EARLY BIRD RATE: $350 (up to 30 days before the start date)

UC San Diego Students/Employees may take the course for $350 ($325 if paid in full 30 days in advance).
Audience Type
Public
Program Summary
A 6-week online course introducing the core skills of self-compassion to build emotional resilience, reduce anxiety and self-criticism, and strengthen well-being and relationships.
Use phased schedule
Off
Program Session
Sundays, 1-2:30 PM PT
https://na.eventscloud.com/scmscsunjune2026
Online
Wednesdays, 6-7:30 PM PT
https://na.eventscloud.com/scmscjuly2026
Online
Online
Enrollment requirement

CFM requires a minimum of 10 registrants. Programs with fewer than 10 will be canceled and fully refunded.

Subscribe to Compassion