Course Overview

MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION

Elena Mansour, MPA, LCMHC-A & MaryBeth Heatwole Moore, RN, BSN, MDiv

Online via Zoom (July 16th to September 3rd, 2025)

All you need to have self-compassion is to be a flawed human being like everyone else. It’s a constant source of support and refuge. Kristin Neff, PhD

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an empirically-supported, 8-week training program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding.The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to our essential interrelatedness, so that we know we aren't alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warm-hearted, connected presence. Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn't receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable when they are good to themselves. It's 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. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others, and be more authentically ourselves. Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships. And it’s easier than you think. After participating in this workshop, you’ll be able to:

  • Practice self-compassion in daily life

  • Understand the empirically-supported benefits of self-compassion

  • Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism

  • Handle difficult emotions with greater ease

  • Transform challenging relationships, old and new

  • Manage caregiver fatigue

  • Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation


What to Expect

Program activities include meditation, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. MSC is a workshop rather than a retreat. The goal is for participants to directly experience self-compassion and learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life. MSC is primarily a compassion training program rather than mindfulness training, although mindfulness is the foundation of self-compassion. MSC is also not psychotherapy insofar as the emphasis of MSC is on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Beneficial change occurs naturally as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way.Compassion is a positive, energizing emotion. However, it is said that “love reveals everything unlike itself.” While learning self-compassion, some difficult emotions may arise. MSC teachers are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey enjoyable for everyone. MSC includes 8 weekly sessions of 2 1/2 hours each, in addition to a 3.5-hour retreat. Prior to registering, participants should plan to attend every session and practice mindfulness and self-compassion regularly throughout the program.

Prerequisites

Everyone is welcome, including people of all backgrounds and identities. No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend MSC. Participants will be asked to provide some personal information when they register for this course to help teachers determine their safety and readiness for this kind of emotional work.

The following book is recommended as a companion to the MSC course: The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer (2018). Also, this program fulfills the first prerequisite for becoming an MSC teacher. For more information on MSC or MSC Teacher Training, please visit www.centerformsc.org

Meet the Teachers

MaryBeth Heatwole Moore, RN, BSN, MDiv, serves as chaplain at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and is ordained through Virginia Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. She volunteers her clinical skills at the Blue Ridge Free Clinic and brings over three decades of experience in nursing and pastoral care. MaryBeth is a trained teacher through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and has been dedicated to Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) practice for the past four years. She recently completed her MSC Teacher Training and co-taught her first MSC course in 2025. Her work integrates evidence-based mindfulness and compassion practices with holistic approaches to emotional resilience and well-being. MaryBeth teaches MSC to support individuals in cultivating greater self-awareness, self-kindness, and emotional strength. She believes compassion is foundational to healing, personal growth, and professional resilience.

Elena Mansour, LCMHC-A, MPA works as a licensed therapist in private practice at Kinder to Yourself Counseling. She also volunteers her time at Helpmate, a domestic violence organization and sits on the grant committee of Women for Women, a women’s philanthropy group. Elena is a trained teacher through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and has been dedicated to Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) practice for numerous years, having taken her first workshop with Chris Germer in 2010 at Kripalu. Over the years, she has taken the full Mind Self-Compassion course three times starting with the live in-person intensive program with Kristin Neff and Chris Germer at the Esalen Institute more than 6 years ago. She recently completed her MSC Teacher Training and co-taught her first MSC course in 2024 and her second MSC course in 2025.

Course Schedule & Details


MSC Summer 2025

Starts Wednesday, July 16​​

Dates and Times

We meet online every Wednesday for 8 weeks. Most classes run from 2-4.30pm (eastern standard time) with the exception of Class 1 and 7.

  • Class 1: July 16, 2:00pm-4:45pm. Discovering Mindful Self-Compassion

  • Class 2: July 23, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Practicing Mindfulness

  • Class 3: July 30, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Practicing Loving-Kindness

  • Class 4: August 6, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Discovering Your Compassionate Voice

  • Half-Day Retreat: August 9th, 9:00am-12:30pm

  • Class 5: August 13, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Living Deeply

  • Class 6: August 20, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Meeting Difficult Emotions

  • Class 7: August 27, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Exploring Challenging Relationships

  • Class 8: September 3rd, 2:00pm-4:30pm. Embracing Your Life

What You Receive

8 Classes & a Half-Day Retreat. Learn from two MSC teachers in a supportive and engaging environment.

24 Hours of Live Teaching. Comprehensive, interactive sessions to deepen your practice.

Exclusive Online Emails. Access to a library of guided meditations, exercises, and resources to use between classes and long after the course ends.

A Warm and Welcoming Community. Connect with like-minded individuals on this transformative journey.

Pricing​

Course Fee:

Benefactor — $495

Sustainer — $395

Supported — $195

Scholarship funds are available. No one will be turned away for inability to pay. Please contact us for further information.  Click here to register. Payment will be requested after registration. Please note your spot is not secured until your payment is received in full.

Refund Policy

Eligibility for Refund:

  1. Refunds will only be considered for participants who have paid their required course fees.

  2. Participants must provide a valid reason for their refund request. Valid reasons may include:

  • Health concerns of self or family members

  • Lapse in personal or professional schedule

  • Course changes and cancellations

Refund Amount: Refund amounts will be determined based on the date the refund request is made relative to the course start date, as well as the participant's progress within the course. The following criteria apply:

  1. Before Course Start Date:

  • Refund requests made 14 days or more prior to the course start date will receive a full refund.

  • Refund requests made 5–13 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 10% administrative fee.

  • Refund requests made less than 5 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 20% administrative fee.

  1. After Course Start Date: Refunds will be prorated based on the participant's time in the course as follows:

  • Up to 1 week into the course: Subject to a 30% administrative fee.

  • After 1 week but before 2 weeks: Subject to a 40% administrative fee.

  • After 2 weeks but before 3 weeks: Subject to a 50% administrative fee.

  • After 3 weeks but before 4 weeks: Subject to a 65% administrative fee.

  • After 4 weeks: No refunds will be provided.

Missed Discounts: Refunds will not be given for missed coupon codes or discounts.

Inaccessibility Cancellation: If the course or workshop is deemed inaccessible for a participant, a 20% administrative fee will still apply to the refund.

Participant Removal: Participants removed from a course or workshop due to behavior that disrupts the learning environment will not receive a refund. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Comments causing discomfort to other participants.

  • Language that may be considered offensive or triggering.

  • Threatening, berating, verbal harassment, or abuse directed toward participants or instructors.

In such cases, the participant will still be responsible for the full cost of tuition.

Refund Process:

  1. Once a refund request is received, it will be reviewed by the teaching team.

  2. The refund decision will be communicated to the participant via email within a reasonable timeframe.

  3. Approved refunds will be processed using the original payment method.

Exceptions and Discretion:

  1. The teachers may consider special circumstances and work with the participant to find an appropriate solution, such as deferring the course enrollment or transferring the enrollment to a future course.

Please note that this refund policy is subject to change, and any updates or modifications will be communicated through our official channels. We encourage all participants to review the policy before enrolling in our paid courses to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions.

If you have any further questions or require clarification regarding our refund policy, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Program Complaints

If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about Elena Mansour or MaryBeth Heatwole Moore or a continuing education program provided by Kinder to Yourself Counseling, the individual may call or email Elena and/or MaryBeth. Although we do not guarantee a particular outcome, we will consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions, and respond within a reasonable time.