How to become a Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher
This is your step-by-step pathway.
How to become a Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher
This is your step-by-step pathway.
Your pathway in 4 clear steps
The MSC teacher training guides you to become a (certified) MSC teacher. The training program and pathway is created by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC) and supported by The Self-Compassion Academy and other teaching partners.
Prerequisite: Before starting, you need to have followed an 8-week MSC course or 5-day intensive, and have an ongoing mindfulness and self-compassion practice.
Summary of the steps
- Step 1: Follow the 6-day residential teacher training.
- Step 2: Follow the teacher training practicum.
- Step 3: Co-teach your first 8-week MSC course, supported by a senior teacher. After this step, you receive a trained teacher certificate.
- Step 4 (optional): Individual mentoring to deepen your teaching. After this, you're a certified teacher.
This teacher training felt like a warm bath. Throughout every step of the training I felt supported by the teachers and the other students.
Step 1: 6-day residential teacher training
Step 1: 6-day MSC teacher training
Learn to embody and teach the MSC program with guidance from experienced, certified trainers. You’ll practice all elements of the 8-week course and receive the complete teaching materials.
Notice that you must attend all sessions to advance to the next step in teacher training.
You'll learn to:
- Deepen your own self-compassion practice;
- Guide meditations;
- Lead exercises and group discussions;
- Adopt strategies to deal with obstacles;
- Understand the theory and research behind MSC.
Step 2: Teacher training practicum
Step 2: MSC teacher training practicum (TTP)
Put the knowledge gained from step 1 into practice, together with a group of fellow trainees.
In this 10-week online practicum, you’ll practice your teaching skills in a safe, supportive group. The practicum is supervised by two certified MSC teachers and each weekly session lasts 2.5 hours.
Each week, every trainee guides a part of the MSC session and receives feedback from peers and teachers.
“The practicum gave me the opportunity to work with other trainees to get to know each part of MSC training well. I now feel ready to deliver my first training.”
What you'll be doing:
- Find your own teaching voice
- Practice your teacher training learnings
- Reflect on personal lessons and learnings
- Connect with other trainees/peers
- Prepare together for the next session
Good to know:
We recommend that you conduct your first MSC training (step 3) within the first year of completing the practicum. To receive the MSC Trained Teacher Status and receive a certificate, make sure you conduct your first MSC training within two years of completing your practicum.
Step 3: Co-teach your first MSC course
Step 3: Co-teach your first 8-week course
Teach your first 8-week course with a co-teacher. You’ll get advice and support through five Zoom consultations with a senior trainer.
After completing this step, you’ll receive your Trained Teacher certificate. and are allowed to teach the 8-week MSC course without supervision.
Needed requirements
- Your MSC course has at least 8 registered participants;
- You must have a co-teacher and teach at least 50% of the course;
- Your course follows the MSC curriculum.
“The Zoom consultations were very supportive. I received good tips and it was nice to be able to ask an experienced teacher all the questions that popped up during the first course, such as dealing with difficult situations. I felt safe to share what I wanted to share.”
“I now feel confident to start teaching the MSC course together with my co-teacher. Also, it’s great to now have a MSC buddy with whom I can teach. Co-teaching is so much fun!”
Step 4: Become a certified teacher (optional)
Step 4: Become a certified teacher (optional)
After teaching at least three MSC courses, you can apply for certification to become a certified MSC teacher. This includes a collaborative assessment and mentoring by a certified MSC teacher.
The certification path includes 14 hours of individual mentoring, for a minimum of two additional MSC trainings.
We highly recommend this step for those who want to teach MSC training on a regular basis. Do you want to become a certified teacher? Contact your teacher trainer.
🌱 Ready to teach?
Take the first step toward sharing self-compassion with others. Join the 6-day MSC Teacher Training.
Course fee: € 1.495,- (ex. VAT and accommodation). Do you have any questions? Please get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the MSC teacher training for?
This pathway is for anyone with:
✔️ Completed an MSC course
✔️ A daily mindfulness practice (2+ years)
✔️ Experience with self-compassion practices
✔️ HBO+ education or equivalent
✔️ At least one 5-day silent retreat
You don’t need to be a therapist or healthcare professional to start.
Is there any required literature?
Yes, it is required to read the material:
- On Becoming a MSC Teacher: A Mountaineer’s Guide to Building the Resource of Mindful Self-Compassion by Christine Braehler, Steven D. Hickman, and Christopher Germer
- Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program by Christopher Germer & Kristin Neff
- The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer
What else do you recommended to read?
- Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
- The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion by Christopher Germer
- Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing by David Treleaven
- Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy by Christopher Germer and Ronald Siegel
- Mindfulness and Psychotherapy (Second Edition) by Christopher Germer, Ronald Siegel and Paul Fulton.
- The Compassionate Mind by Paul Gilbert
- The Mindfulness Solution by Ronald Siegel
- Self-Compassion: Step by Step by Kristin Neff
What's the investment for MSC teacher training?
The course fee is € 1.495,- (ex. VAT). The costs for the accommodation (Hotel Mennorode) is € 1.349,- (6 nights in a single or double room on a full board)
