The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself: Teaching System Involved Youth and Those that Support them Self-Compassion

Brooke Hailey, PhD

Training Description

This training will help participants to understand the multitude of benefits associated with self-compassion, emphasizing its transformative power in various facets of life. Participants will learn how self-compassion fosters emotional resilience by providing a buffer against anxiety and depression which can support system involved youth and families towards improved outcomes. Participants will also learn how self-compassion enables individuals to confront challenging situations with greater ease, offering a supportive inner resource that counteracts feelings of inadequacy or self-criticism. Most importantly they will learn hands-on techniques to cultivate self-compassion which can easily be taught to system involved youth and their families.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Identify and explain three principles of Self-Compassion and how they apply to system-involved youth (SIY).
• Identify three potential benefits of Self-Compassion for SIY and their families.
• Identify & explain three specific strategies that can be used to foster self-compassion in SIY.

Agenda

9:00-9:45AM  Introduction

· How I learned about self-compassion

· Definition of self-compassion

· Importance of the topic for everyone and particularly system involved youth

9:45-10:30AM  Understanding Self-Compassion

· Self-kindness vs. self-judgment

· Common humanity vs. isolation

· Mindfulness vs. over-identification

10:30-11:00AM  Video Presentation Kristen Neff (Author of SELF-COMPASSION) interview

· Introduction to video

· Video

11:00-11:30AM  Lunch Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

11:30AM-12:30PM  The Science Behind Self-Compassion

· Psychological well-being

· Resilience in the face of failure or adversity

· Improved relationships and empathy

· Case Examples

12:30-1:30PM  Practical strategies for cultivating self-compassion

· Mindfulness exercises

· Changing negative self-talk

· Interactive exercise: Roleplay Mindfulness strategies

· Interactive exercise: Roleplay Changing negative self-talk strategies

1:30-1:45PM  Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

1:45-2:30 PM  Overcoming Barriers to Self-Compassion:  Common misconceptions or hurdles

· Fear of self-indulgence or selfishness

· Cultural or societal influences

· Perfectionism and high self-expectations

2:30-2:45PM  Questions and Answers

2:45-3:00PM  Summary and Wrap-Up

Meet Our Trainer

Brooke Hailey, PhD is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She completed her undergraduate work at New York University and then received her masters from Antioch University and her PhD from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She has been in private practice in Los Angeles for more than twenty years. She is also the owner and clinical director of New Directions, an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders. Brooke works with adults, adolescents, couples and families. Though she specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, Brooke works with clients who have a variety of issues from depression, anxiety and addiction to relationship issues.

This course meets the qualifications for (5.25) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.