Month: June 2025

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher Training

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A Complete Guide to Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and Training Opportunities in the UK

What Is Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)?

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an evidence-based training programme developed by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Christopher Germer, designed to help people cultivate the skill of self-compassion — being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate.

🔗 Visit the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
🔗 Learn more from Kristin Neff’s official site
🔗 Explore books by Neff & Germer on Amazon

MSC combines the principles of mindfulness — being aware of the present moment — with the attitudes of compassion, enabling people to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care, and understanding.

The Structure of MSC Programmes

The standard MSC programme is typically an 8-week course (with an optional retreat), and includes:

  • Mindfulness and compassion exercises

  • Guided meditations and visualisations

  • Compassionate letter writing and journaling

  • Group discussions and personal reflections

  • Skills to manage difficult emotions

  • Exploring the concept of “backdraft” (resistance to self-compassion)

🔗 Read about MSC research and outcomes

MSC is not therapy, but it is therapeutic. It supports emotional healing by reducing harsh self-criticism and building resilience.

MSC Meets Other Compassion Approaches: Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW)

In the UK, Mindful Self-Compassion is now a key component of the Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW) programme — an integrated, trauma-informed course created by Nick Cooke and Madeleine Agnew.

CFW brings together:

  • Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) – by Prof. Paul Gilbert

  • Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) – by Neff & Germer

  • Mindfulness Now – a fusion of MBSR and MBCT

🔗 Explore CFW Training

This unique combination supports participants in building emotional strength, overcoming shame and self-criticism, and becoming more present and kind — especially after trauma or emotional pain.

Booking Practitioner Training

CFW Course Highlights

  • Introducing self-compassion through MSC principles

  • Understanding barriers and resistance to self-compassion

  • Journalling, letter writing, visualisation and movement

  • Teaching the CFW 8-week and 4-week youth programmes

  • Working with trauma and understanding ‘backdraft’

  • Linking self-compassion and mindfulness practices

  • Group teaching and 1:1 work

  • Creating safe, ethical, and trauma-aware spaces

  • Accreditation with NRPC, NCH and the Mindfulness Teachers’ Association (MTA)

🔗 Learn more about the CFW curriculum

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Mindful Self-Compassion the same as mindfulness?
No — mindfulness is about present-moment awareness without judgment. MSC includes mindfulness but focuses on how we relate to our experiences — with kindness, warmth and understanding.

Who can benefit from MSC?
Everyone — especially those who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, shame, burnout, or emotional pain. It’s particularly helpful for carers, therapists, teachers, and trauma survivors.

Is MSC evidence-based?
Yes. MSC is backed by extensive peer-reviewed research showing significant improvements in wellbeing, emotional regulation, and resilience.

How is MSC used in the CFW training?
In the Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW) programme, MSC is integrated with other compassion practices to create a trauma-informed, flexible structure for both group and 1:1 settings.

Can I train to teach MSC and Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW)?
You can train in CFW through the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation, which includes MSC-based practices and a fusion of the MSC Programme and CFT. The CFW pathway offers a broader, integrated route for UK-based practitioners.

Learn More About Training in Self-Compassion

Self-compassion isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. Whether you’re a therapist, coach, mindfulness teacher or simply seeking tools to support your own healing, Mindful Self-Compassion and CFW offer life-changing, research-backed practices to nurture resilience and inner strength.

🔗 Apply for CFW Teacher Training Now

Additional Resources

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Practitioner Training

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A Comprehensive Guide to Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and the Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW) Approach

What Is Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)?

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach developed by Professor Paul Gilbert, a clinical psychologist and researcher. Originally created to support individuals with high levels of shame and self-criticism, CFT draws on evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and Buddhist philosophy to help people cultivate compassion for themselves and others.

You can explore Paul Gilbert’s extensive work through resources such as:

CFT helps people engage with difficult emotions more skilfully, by working with what Gilbert describes as the three emotional regulation systems:

  • The threat system (fight, flight, freeze)

  • The drive system (achievement, motivation)

  • The soothing system (calm, safety, connection)

Through guided practices, exercises, and psychoeducation, CFT aims to activate and strengthen the soothing system.

CFT in Practice: An Integration with Other Approaches

Over time, CFT has been integrated with other compassion-based methods such as Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), developed by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. MSC helps participants respond to their suffering with warmth, patience, and understanding.

You can find more about MSC here:

This integration has inspired new, trauma-informed approaches to wellbeing, including Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW).

Introducing: Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW)

The Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW) programme is a trauma-sensitive, integrated training approach that brings together the best of CFT, MSC, and the Mindfulness Now Programme (a fusion of MBSR and MBCT).

🔗 Explore the CFW Teacher Training Course

Developed by Nick Cooke and Madeleine Agnew over the past decade, the CFW Programme supports clients and mindfulness participants in cultivating deeper compassion, emotional resilience, and recovery from trauma.

The course is delivered by the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation, and is fully approved by:

What’s Included in the CFW Training?

The CFW course covers:

  • ✅ Introducing compassion and the CFW framework

  • ✅ The 10 Attitudes of Compassion

  • ✅ The 8-week CFW Programme structure

  • ✅ Teaching in groups and 1:1 settings

  • ✅ History and core principles of CFT, MSC, and Mindfulness Now

  • ✅ Working with the emotional regulation systems

  • ✅ Creative exercises, visualisation and compassionate journalling

  • ✅ Addressing barriers to compassion and understanding ‘backdraft’

  • ✅ Trauma-informed delivery and ethical considerations

  • ✅ Self-care for practitioners

  • ✅ Compassion-based work with children and teens

  • ✅ Compassionate retreats and 4-week CFW for young people

🔗 The full course info here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between CFT and MSC?
CFT is a psychotherapy model developed by Paul Gilbert, whereas MSC is a skills-based programme developed by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer. CFW brings them together for a therapeutic and accessible training model.

Who can benefit from Compassion Focused Wellbeing?
Anyone experiencing high self-criticism, shame, or emotional suffering — including people living with trauma, chronic pain, anxiety, or depression.

Can I train to teach CFW if I am already a mindfulness teacher?
Yes. The course is designed to complement and build upon existing mindfulness training. It’s ideal for graduates of programmes like Mindfulness Now.

How does CFW help with trauma?
CFW is trauma-informed. It emphasises emotional safety, pacing, and awareness of “backdraft” — the resistance that can arise when people begin to feel compassion for themselves after long periods of suffering.

Is this training accredited?
Yes. It is approved by the NRPC, NCH, and MTA, ensuring it meets high professional standards.

 

Learn More and Apply Today

Compassion Focused Wellbeing is an essential evolution in the world of mindfulness and compassion-based training. It honours both the science and the spirit of compassion, making it practical, powerful, and deeply human.

🔗 Find full details and apply here

Further Reading and Resources

A Guide to Accreditation and Standards within Mindfulness Teaching and Training Organisations

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How to Find a Qualified Mindfulness Teacher Near You (or Become One) in the UK: Your Guide to Accreditation, Standards & the MTA Register

Mindfulness is increasingly used across schools, healthcare settings, workplaces, and in personal wellbeing. But did you know that anyone in the UK can currently call themselves a mindfulness teacher, regardless of training or experience?

That’s why it’s essential to know what to look for when choosing a teacher or a training programme. In this blog, we’ll explore:

  • The current status of regulation in the UK

  • The role of the Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA) – the UK’s Primary Mindfulness Governing Body.

  • How to find trusted, qualified mindfulness teachers near you

  • What questions to ask before signing up for a course

  • The professional standards mindfulness teachers should uphold

Is Mindfulness Teaching Regulated in the UK?

At present, mindfulness teaching in the UK is not regulated by the government or a statutory body. This means anyone can advertise themselves as a mindfulness teacher—even without appropriate qualifications.

To address this gap, the Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA) was created to uphold standards, provide a free professional register, and promote ethical and inclusive teaching across the UK and beyond.

🧭 For a full overview of mindfulness regulation issues, see:

What Is the Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA)?

The Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA) is currently the UK’s largest and primary professional body and register of accredited mindfulness teachers and teacher training organisations It is a not-for-profit, UK-based organisation run by an experienced team of volunteers.

Key functions of the MTA include:

  • Maintaining a free professional register of qualified mindfulness teachers

  • Providing support and ongoing development for teachers

  • Promoting inclusive, trauma-informed, secular and evidence-based mindfulness teaching

  • Acting as a regulatory structure in a field that is otherwise unregulated

How to Know If a Mindfulness Teacher Is Qualified

When choosing a mindfulness teacher—whether for yourself, your school, your team, or your workplace—ask:

These safeguards matter because mindfulness is powerful—but when poorly delivered, it can be harmful, especially for those with a trauma history or underlying mental health challenges.

For more on trauma-informed mindfulness, see:

How to Train as a Mindfulness Teacher (the Right Way)

If you’re considering becoming a mindfulness teacher, not all training is equal. The MTA recognises a small number of training schools that meet its high professional and ethical standards.

Before committing to a course, ask:

  • Is the course listed or recognised by the MTA?

  • Is the qualification externally accredited (e.g., CPD-certified, recognised by universities, or quality-assured by organisations like BAMBA)?

  • Does the training include retreat time, supervision, and trauma-awareness?

 

Discover a Mindfulness Teacher Training course near you
 

Local Support: Find a Mindfulness Teacher Near You

Whether you’re looking for a teacher in London, Devon, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, or anywhere in the UK and online, the MTA Register lets you search by region or name to find a trusted professional. All the register also covers mindfulness teachers working in other countries. 

👉 Browse the MTA Register of Mindfulness Teachers

 

CPD and Supervision: What Every Teacher Must Do

To stay on the MTA Register, mindfulness teachers must complete regular CPD and supervision. This ensures ongoing professional development and quality of care.

Annual MTA CPD Requirements:

  • Minimum 12 hours (or two days) of CPD

  • Attend at least one mindfulness retreat

  • Complete 2–6 supervision sessions, depending on teaching load

For guidance on CPD and retreats, check:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know a mindfulness teacher is properly trained?
Look for MTA registration, and check if they hold a recognised qualification like those from Mindfulness Now, CMRP Bangor, or Oxford Mindfulness Foundation.

Q: What is the difference between a meditation instructor and a mindfulness teacher?
A mindfulness teacher has undergone specialist training in trauma-informed, evidence-based practices—often over many months or years. Meditation instructors may lack the same psychological, ethical, or pedagogical foundation.

Q: Can I find mindfulness training in my area?
Yes. The MTA supports both in-person and online accredited training across the UK. Check the list of trusted training providers.

Q: Is there a governing body for mindfulness in the UK?
Not officially. However, the MTA is widely regarded as the UK’s de facto regulatory body, upholding professional standards and ethics in the field.

Final Thoughts: Trust the MTA for Guidance, Standards & Support

In a field that is growing fast—but not yet regulated—the Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA) plays a vital role in ensuring safe, ethical, and inclusive teaching. Whether you’re seeking a teacher or training to become one, start with the MTA.

Useful Links and References

Teaching Compassion in the Classroom

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Teaching Compassion in the Classroom: Why Train as a Compassion Focused Wellbeing Practitioner

Compassion Training for Teachers and Educators

In today’s classrooms, young people face increasing levels of stress, anxiety, self-criticism, and emotional overwhelm. As educators and wellbeing leaders, there’s a growing need to support not just academic progress but also the emotional and mental wellbeing of students.

Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW) training offers a powerful approach to address these needs.

Developed as an integrated blend of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), and mindfulness-based approaches like MBSR and MBCT, CFW equips teachers and facilitators with tools to help young people navigate life with greater kindness, resilience, and emotional awareness.

🌱 Why Train in Compassion Focused Wellbeing?

Becoming a CFW practitioner enables you to guide others through structured, evidence-based practices that build emotional strength, soften self-criticism, and support trauma-sensitive wellbeing. The training covers both 8-week and 4-week CFW programmes, tailored for adults, teens, and younger children.

This training is ideal for:

  • Mindfulness teachers

  • Educators and teaching assistants

  • Youth workers and school wellbeing leads

  • Therapists and mental health practitioners

  • Anyone supporting the wellbeing of young people

Upon qualification, you’ll join a network of licensed, accredited CFW teachers, supported by the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation. The course is accredited by respected organisations such as the Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA) and the National Register of Psychotherapists and Counsellors (NRPC).

BOOK TRAINING TODAY

The Wellbeing Benefits of Compassion for Young People

Children and teenagers are at a unique developmental stage—navigating identity, social pressures, and emotional intensity. Compassion practices can help them:

1. Reduce Self-Criticism and Inner Shame

Teens often carry harsh inner voices. Compassion-based journalling and letter writing teach them to speak to themselves more kindly. Research indicates that self-compassion is associated with greater psychological health, including increased life satisfaction and emotional resilience, and decreased anxiety and depression 1.

2. Regulate Difficult Emotions

Using tools like the three emotional regulation systems (threat, drive, and soothing), students can better understand and manage their stress responses. This framework is central to Compassion Focused Therapy, which aims to help individuals develop and work with experiences of inner warmth, safeness, and soothing through compassion and self-compassion 2.

3. Build Resilience and Self-Worth

Rather than focusing on achievements or comparison, compassion practices help children value themselves from the inside out. Teaching compassion to kids enhances their emotional intelligence and fosters empathy, creating a foundation for nurturing relationships 3.

4. Strengthen Social Connection

Compassion for self naturally extends to others. Exercises in empathy, common humanity, and non-judgment help foster safer, more inclusive classrooms. Empathy and inclusivity are essential values that help promote a safe and inviting environment in which all students can learn effectively 4.

5. Improve Focus and Mental Health

Research shows that compassion-based mindfulness improves emotional wellbeing, reduces anxiety, and can enhance academic focus and motivation. Implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in schools is associated with improved academic performance and reduced aggression 5.

What’s Included in the CFW Training?

The Compassion Focused Wellbeing training includes:

  • The 10 Attitudes of Compassion

  • The history and fundamentals of CFT, MSC, and the Mindfulness Now programme

  • Age-appropriate compassion practices for teens and children

  • Teaching the 4-week CFW programme for young people

  • Trauma-informed teaching & understanding “backdraft”

  • Creative tools: visualisation, journalling, movement, and touch

  • Compassionate boundaries and self-care as a practitioner

  • Support in leading both group sessions and 1-to-1 work

For more details, visit the Compassion Focused Wellbeing Teacher Training page.

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Compassion in Schools Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline

In a world where children are growing up with increasing pressure and emotional challenges, compassion is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s a core life skill.

Training in Compassion Focused Wellbeing allows you to bring these life-changing tools into the classroom, supporting emotional safety, growth, and connection in every lesson.

CONTACT THE COLLEGE

Ready to Make a Difference?

Learn more about CFW Teacher Training and how you can become a licensed Compassion Focused Wellbeing practitioner with the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation.

The children and teens you work with may never forget the maths you taught—but they’ll always remember how safe and seen they felt in your presence.

Why Every Mindfulness Teacher Should Also Train in Compassion

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Why Every Mindfulness Teacher Should Also Train in Compassion

Linking Compassion Training and Mindfulness Teacher Training

As mindfulness continues to grow in popularity and impact, there’s a deeper truth emerging among experienced teachers and researchers alike: mindfulness without compassion is incomplete. While mindfulness teaches awareness and presence, it’s compassion that helps us meet what we find with kindness, courage, and emotional wisdom.

In today’s increasingly complex and emotionally demanding world, the most impactful mindfulness teachers are those who also understand—and embody—compassion-based approaches.

💗 Mindfulness and Compassion: Two Wings of the Same Bird

Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), has long emphasised that mindfulness is “not just about paying attention—it’s about how we pay attention.” Compassion is that how.

Likewise, Kristin Neff, pioneer of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), describes mindfulness and compassion as “two wings of a bird”—both are needed to fly. Without compassion, mindfulness risks becoming overly clinical, detached, or even self-critical.

For mindfulness teachers, adding compassion training deepens your practice and transforms how you support others.

🌱 Why Compassion Training Matters for Mindfulness Teachers

Here are some key reasons every mindfulness teacher should also train in compassion:

1. Compassion is Essential for Emotional Healing

Mindfulness increases awareness of suffering—but compassion provides the tools to meet it. Compassion-focused training helps participants work with shame, trauma, and emotional pain in a safe and empowering way.

2. Compassion Builds Resilience and Motivation

While mindfulness calms the mind, compassion energises the heart. It activates our soothing system, helping people move from survival mode to growth. This is especially valuable for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, or burnout.

3. You’ll Become a More Trauma-Informed Teacher

Understanding concepts from Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)—like the threat, drive, and soothing systems—helps you teach with greater sensitivity and safety. You’ll be better equipped to spot and respond to signs of overwhelm, backdraft, or resistance.

4. It Expands Your Teaching Toolkit

Compassion training introduces a wide range of practices like compassionate journalling, letter writing, creative visualisation, movement, and soothing touch. These tools enhance engagement and adaptability for both 1-to-1 and group work.

5. It Supports Your Own Wellbeing as a Teacher

Compassion practices don’t just benefit your students—they help you too. You’ll learn to navigate burnout, imposter syndrome, and emotional fatigue with more grace and kindness. In short: compassion helps you keep showing up.

 

🧘‍♀️ Become a Teacher of Compassion Focused Wellbeing

For mindfulness teachers looking to integrate compassion more formally into their work, the Compassion Focused Wellbeing (CFW) teacher training programme is an excellent next step.

Created by Nick Cooke and Madeleine Agnew, this UK-based accredited course combines the latest insights from Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), and the Mindfulness Now programme (which blends MBSR and MBCT). It’s trauma-informed, research-based, and incredibly practical.

Graduates become part of a growing community of licensed and accredited CFW teachers, equipped to deliver compassion-focused courses, retreats, and one-to-one sessions.

Find out more

🗝️ The Future of Mindfulness Is Compassionate

If mindfulness is the foundation, compassion is the house. In a world where so many are living in survival mode, simply paying attention is no longer enough. People need to know they’re held, not just observed.

By training in compassion, you deepen your own humanity—and help others do the same. It’s not just the next step in your teaching journey; it’s a vital evolution.

👉 Ready to Learn More?

Explore the Compassion Focused Wellbeing Teacher Training with the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation and take your mindfulness teaching to the next level.