Self-Compassion for Shame: Practical Skills for Emotional Wellbeing (CR1B26)

Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online.

Registration closes at 8:00am (Pacific Time) on November 8, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program.

This program offers 5 CEs at $50. For more CE details, see below.

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A benefit for the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and Spirit Rock

Description:
What’s wrong with you? Who do you think you are?

All humans can experience shame—including the most practiced meditators and meditation teachers. It can even happen when we’re entirely innocent of wrongdoing, as well as when we make a mistake. Whenever we feel bad about ourselves, for whatever reason, there’s usually a touch of shame present. It strikes us at the core of our being and yet has nothing to do with who we really are.

The power of shame is largely an illusion. As meditation teacher Tara Brach says, shame often masquerades as a “trance of unworthiness” that gets its power from our instinctive avoidance of it. However, when we look at shame through the eyes of self-compassion, we can discover something quite surprising—that shame is an innocent emotion arising from a universal wish to be loved. This insight opens the door to compassion and self-understanding. Research shows that self-compassion is the opposite of shame. As self-compassion goes up, shame goes down.

In this benefit workshop, Chris Germer and Richa Gawande present the practice of Self-Compassion for Shame, specifically tailored to loosen the grip of shame in our own lives. The workshop includes short talks, exercises, practices, and discussion. Participants will learn 5-6 simple tools to bring home to use in their daily life.

All are invited to attend this benefit with the awareness that shame can be a difficult human emotion—and that self-compassion itself can be emotionally activating. The workshop may be emotionally challenging, so some familiarity with practicing self-compassion before joining this workshop may be helpful.

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Sliding Scale: Our sliding scale options will support the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and Spirit Rock. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports the teachers as well as the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Spirit Rock, and your fellow practitioners who need to pay less. Further scholarships are not available for this Benefit.

On-Land Sliding Scale: (CR1B26)**
Benefactor – $400
Sustainer – $265
Basic – $160
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, Young Adult) – $90
**Volunteer/Work Exchange opportunities, which include full or partial Scholarships, may be available for the in-person program. For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@spiritrock.org.

Online Sliding Scale: (CR1Z26)
Benefactor – $275
Sustainer – $160
Basic – $125
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, Young Adult) – $55

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*Important Notes:

Access to Recording

• Registration includes unlimited access to this program’s recording. You must register by the deadline above. The recording will be available in ~10 days after the program.

On-Land Attendees

• The on-land program will take place in the Community Meditation Center (CMC) in the Great Hall.
• Bring a lunch and a water bottle. Lunch is not provided.
• This is NOT a residential retreat. Overnight accommodations are not provided.

COVID Safety Protocols for non-residential programs: details here.

Cancellation Policy for On-Land: Daylongs, Multiday Programs (1-3 days), Family Programs, CE fees:

• NO REFUNDS.
• Open Credit or Donation to Spirit Rock = cancel 2 or more business days prior to program (Pacific Time)
• No Open Credit = cancel less than 2 business days prior

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Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
This introductory-level program offers 5 Continuing Education (CE) credits/contact hours for $50.

This program is applicable for licensed and license-eligible mental health and health care professionals, including psychologists, social workers (LCSW, LSW), counselors (LPC, LCPC, LMHC), marriage and family therapists, nurses (RN, NP), chiropractors, and other health care professionals, seeking education in self-compassion and shame. Please review our Continuing Education information page for provider details, and to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.

Shame is a universal human experience, and it also shapes clinical work directly — influencing client disclosure and treatment engagement, and shaping how providers relate to their own self-criticism. This program grounds participants in current theory and research on shame and self-compassion, examines the personal and cultural origins of shame, and offers concrete self-compassion practices participants can bring into both clinical work and daily life. Dr. Christopher Germer, author of Self-Compassion for Shame: A Step-by-Step Guide to Inner Freedom and co-developer of the Mindful Self-Compassion program, is a longtime lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Richa Gawande, Co-Director of the Mindfulness Training for Primary Care, is a research scientist at the Cambridge Health Alliance Center for Mindfulness and Compassion. Together, they bring participants a program grounded in their combined clinical and research experience.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
At the end of the program, participants will be better able to:

• Describe the theory and research on the relationship between shame and self-compassion.
• Describe how self-compassion is understood as an antidote for shame.
• Identify childhood experiences and cultural factors that are linked to feelings of shame.
• Utilize self-compassion practices for working with self-criticism and shame-related experiences in daily life.

Attendance policy for CE participants:

• Full, live attendance is required. Incomplete attendance nullifies CE eligibility, as board regulations do not permit partial credit for partial attendance.
• Sign in and out at the CE table, on time.
• Submit your professional information within one week of receiving the link. This link will be emailed within 2 business days after the program to all participants who met the attendance requirements.
• Certificates are issued only to those who meet the attendance requirements—without exception—to maintain compliance with our provider licenses and ensure the continuation of future CE programs.

Please note:

• Visit our Continuing Education information page for complete provider details and additional CE information, including attendance requirements and our cancellation and grievance policies.
• Continuing Education is sponsored by Mindful CECs.
• Mindful CECs is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Mindful CECs maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• Mindful CECs is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17985 for 5 contact hours.
• Participants are responsible for determining whether this program meets the CE requirements of their licensing board or certifying organization. Spirit Rock does not confirm CE applicability for license types beyond the scope of Mindful CECs’ provider approvals.
• Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.
• Conflict of Interest Statement: These instructors may have authored publications relevant to the subjects covered in this course, and may teach additional programs. The instructors might reference these publications and programs during the course, and may receive financial compensation if participants choose to purchase them.

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